ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Decreased psychological and cognitive functioning is one of the complications of Covid-19 disease. We aimed to evaluate mental health, cognitive functioning, and salivary cortisol levels in Covid-19 patients with different disease severities in three 45-day intervals after recovery. METHODS: 258 Covid-19 patients were assigned into three groups based on their disease severity: 112 patients in mild group, 67 patients in moderate group and 79 patients in severe group. The participants underwent psychological evaluations (including Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, SpeilBerger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory), cognitive assessments (The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test) and salivary cortisol level evaluation in three 45-day periods. Non-parametric statistical methods were applied for psychological and cognitive indicators, while two-way mixed model ANOVA was used to evaluate the cortisol concentration in three replications. RESULTS: The group of mild patients became more anxious and the group of moderate patients became more anxious and depressed. But all three groups of patients developed severe sleep disorders over time. For cognitive functioning, although the results showed a decrease in the correct response rate, a significant increase in the correct response rate was observed in all three groups in all three measurements. However, the response speed not only did not increase, but also decreased in severe group. Cortisol level had a markedly increasing trend in all three groups. CONCLUSION: Improvement of cognitive functioning was in line with the increase in cortisol. Besides, the decrease in mental health had no effect on the cognitive functioning.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic negatively affects public mental health around the world. Individuals' reactions to COVID-19 vary depending on their temperament, individual differences, and personality traits. Therefore, the current study is conducted to assess the association of demographical features, Persian temperament, and psychological characteristics with the severity of COVID-19. Method: An online survey was sent to COVID-19 patients to collect their demographic information, COVID-19 symptoms, and clinical data. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DAAS-21) questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Spiel Berger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) , Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), and Persian general and brain temperament Questionnaire were also completed by 258 participants (127 men and 131 women) 45 days after recovery from COVID-19. Non-parametric analysis was used for statistical analysis. Results: Results showed the significant relationship of demographic factors such as weight, age and gender with the severity of the COVID-19 (P < 0.05). Mean scores of brain temperament (warm/cold) in the severe group were significantly lower than the moderate and mild groups (P < 0.05). There was a significant increase in the dry/wet temperament of the brain in the severe and moderate groups compared to the mild group (P < 0.05). The results of DASS-21 showed a significantly higher anxiety in patients with severe COVID-19 compared with moderate and mild groups (P < 0.05). The severe group was found to be significantly different compared to moderate group in the results of BDI-II (P < 0.05). The result of STAI (state and trait) showed a significant difference between the severe group and the mild and moderate groups. The score of PSQI between the moderate and mild groups was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate the relationship between demographic factors such as weight, age and gender, brain temperament, as well as some psychological factors such as sleep quality and anxiety with the severity of the COVID-19 disease.