Risk-Taking Behavior in Recovered COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate risk-taking behavior and decision-making processes in recovered COVID-19 patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients recovered from COVID-19 as confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and twenty-one healthy individuals were recruited. A computerized version of the Iowa Gambling Test (IGT) for measuring risk-taking behavior tendencies as a decision-making process and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and WMS-R Digit Span Forward Test (DSFT) for clinical assessments included. The assessments of the recovered patients were applied on the initial phase that the tests of the patients were negative and on the 4-week follow up phase. RESULTS: The results showed that the anxiety scores were significantly higher in the healthy control group than in the group of recovered patients. The IGT-Net 4 scores were significantly and IGT-Net total scores were marginally significantly lower in the group of recovered patients. In other words, recovered patients showed higher risk-taking behavior tendencies. This tendency difference is consistent with the anxiety levels of the groups. These IGT scores showed to be persistent in the 4-week follow up phase. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that recovered patients show higher risk-taking behavior tendencies than healthy controls and this may be the result of overcoming the COVID-19 threat.

Comparison of Psychiatric Symptoms in Patients with COVID-19 Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit and Non-Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare of psychiatric symptoms in patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in intensive care units and non-intensive care units. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 3351 hospitalized patients due to COVID-19 were retrospectively scanned, and 130 of patients were checked by attending consultation psychiatrists. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in ICU (75±11.3) was higher than those hospitalized in non-ICU (57.9±14) (p<0.001). The rate of patients aged 65 and over was higher in patients with COVID-19 hospitalized ICU (86.3%) than those hopitalized in non-ICU (40.5%) (p<0.001). The frequency of psychiatric consultations due to delirium was higher in the patients hospitalized in ICU than those hospitalized in non-ICU (p<0.001). Haloperidol and SSRIs were preferred more frequently by psychiatrists in the patients hospitalized in ICU than those hospitalized in non-ICU (p<0.001 and p=0.041, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia and delirium are the most frequent psychiatric manifestations in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and delirium and anxiety are more common in the COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized in ICU.