Mixed Depression in the Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Correlation between Excitatory Symptoms in Depression and Physical Burden after COVID-19

Authors

Alessio Simonetti
Evelina Bernardi
Stella Margoni
Antonello Catinari
Antonio Restaino
Valentina Ieritano
Marta Palazzetti
Federico Mastrantonio
Delfina Janiri
Matteo Tosato
Francesco Landi
Gabriele Sani

Language

English

Publication Date

4-20-2023

Journal

Brain Sciences

DOI

10.3390/brainsci13040688

PMID

37190653

PMCID

PMC10137109

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

4-20-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

The relationship between depression and post-COVID-19 disease syndrome (post-COVID-19 syndrome) is established. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the association between post-COVID-19 syndrome and mixed depression, i.e., a specific sub-form of depression characterized by high level of excitatory symptoms. Aims of the present study are: (a) to compare the post-COVID-19 syndrome's burden in depressed and non-depressed patients, and (b) to investigate the correlation between post-COVID-19 syndrome's burden and the severity of mixed depression. One thousand and forty six (n = 1460) subjects with post-COVID-19 syndrome were assessed. Subjects were divided into those with (DEP) or without (CONT) depression. Sociodemographically, post-COVID-19 syndrome's symptoms number and type were compared. In DEP, association between levels of excitatory symptoms and the presence of post-COVID-19 syndrome's symptoms were additionally assessed. DEP showed greater percentages of family history of psychiatric disorders than CONT. DEP showed higher percentages of post-COVID-19 symptoms than CONT. A greater level of excitatory symptoms were associated to higher frequencies of post-COVID-19 syndrome' symptoms. Higher levels of post-COVID-19 syndrome's symptoms in DEP corroborate the evidence of a common pathway between these two syndromes. Presence of excitatory symptoms seem to additionally add a greater illness burden. Such findings might help clinicians choose the appropriate treatment for such states. More specifically, therapies aimed to treat excitatory symptoms, such as antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, might help reduce the illness burden in post-COVID-19 patients with mixed depression.

Keywords

mixed depression, depression, agitation, COVID-19, post-COVID-19 syndrome

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Simonetti, Alessio; Bernardi, Evelina; Margoni, Stella; et al., "Mixed Depression in the Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Correlation between Excitatory Symptoms in Depression and Physical Burden after COVID-19" (2023). Faculty and Staff Publications. 6095.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/6095