ABSTRACT
Introduction: The major clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in the brain are associated with its deleterious neurological and mental health actions. Today, there are limited findings concerning the studying of neuropsychiatric action for SARS-Cov-2 in humans after COVID-19 disease. Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of SSRIs (escitalopram, sertraline and fluoxetine) for 6 months therapy on the affective profile of man and women with the clinically confirmed Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) cases following COVID-19 disease. Method(s): . For the assessment of affective profile in man and women (30-55 years) with the initial clinically confirmed MDD or GAD cases after COVID-19 disease, we used the different tests: Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and anxiety scale (ShARS Scale). The hormonal and monoamines levels in the serum blood were measured by ELISA tests before and after SSRIs therapy. Result(s): After 6 months of SSRIs therapy, MADRS Scale showed a incomplete disappearance of the depressive/anxiety manifestations in both men and women with the initial clinically confirmed MDD case after COVID-19 (p<0,05). We found that SSRIs were able to reduce depression/anxiety levels only on 20% in man or on 30% in women with the initial MDD case after COVID-19 before treatment. Conclusion(s): SSRIs treatmet alone failed to produce the decrease of depression/anxiety in the patients of both gender with the initial MDD or GAD diagnosis after COVID-19. The further randomized clinical trials involving new pharmacological therapies for psychiatric pations after COVID-19 disease are needed.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The World Health Organization postulated Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) is a pandemic situation in the whole world [1]. Although the main damaging of SARS-Cov-2 in the human organism is linked to its severe acute respiratory illness, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 implicates in the various central nervous system impairments and deteriorations [1,2]. The major clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in the brain are associated with its deleterious neurological and mental health actions [3]. Currently, we do not know exactly how actually SARS-CoV-2 might negatively alter the brain functions in humans. Today, there are limited findings concerning the studying of neuropsychiatric action for SARS-Cov-2 in humans after COVID-19 disease. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of SSRIs (escitalopram, sertraline and fluoxetine) for 6 months therapy on the affective profile of man and women with the first Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) cases following COVID-19 disease without any previous psychiatric diagnosis. Methods. For the assessment of affective profile in man and women (30-55 years) with the first MDD or GAD cases after COVID-19 disease, we used the different tests: Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and anxiety scale (ShARS Scale). The hormonal and Vitamin D3 levels in the serum blood were measured by immune-enzyme analysis before and after SSRIs therapy. Results. After 6 months of SSRIs therapy, MADRS Scale showed a significant improvement of the depressive manifestations in both men and women with the first MDD case after COVID-19 (p%26lt;0,05). However, these patients of both gender demonstrated significantly high anxiety level by ShARS Scale. We found that SSRIs were able to reduce anxiety level only on 25%25 in man or on 35%25 in women with the first MDD case after COVID-19 before treatment (p%26lt;0,05). Interestingly, MADRS Scale showed a similar improvement of the depressive manifestations in both men and women with the first GAD case after COVID-19 treated with SSRIs for 6 months (p%26lt;0,05). Also, women with the first GAD case after COVID-19 treated with SSRIs had the parameters of their affective profile that were similarly to those of control group. The reduction of depressive symptoms in women with the first GAD case after COVID-19 treated with SSRIs was associated with restoration of cortisol concentrations in the serum blood compared to the initial levels. Conclusion: Thus, our pilot clinical study clearly demonstrated that SSRIs treatment have a beneficial effect on the depressive symptoms in patients of both gender with the first MDD or GAD cases after COVID-19. However, SSRIs therapy alone failed to produce the decrease of anxiety in the patients of both gender with the first MDD or GAD cases after COVID-19. In light of the demonstrated data, the importance of truly adequate treatment to the long-term neuropsychiatric outcomes of COVID-19 in patients of both gender, further randomized clinical trials involving new pharmacological therapies are needed in the future. No conflict of interest