Incidence of Psychiatric Illness among COVID-19-Positive Individuals with and Without Loss of Smell or Taste Symptoms in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India - A Prospective Cohort Study
Annals of Indian Psychiatry
; 6(2):169-175, 2022.
Article
in English
| Web of Science | ID: covidwho-2024699
ABSTRACT
Background:
COVID infection is known to cause acute and long-term neuropsychiatric presentations. Coronavirus infections are known to have neuroinvasive potential with consequent neuropsychiatric manifestations. Materials andMethods:
The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, and COVID-19-positive individuals were grouped based on the presence or absence of loss of smell (anosmia) or taste symptoms (ageusia). Group 1 without smell or taste disturbance, and Group 2 with smell or taste disturbance. Both groups were followed up for 6 months to assess the new onset of psychiatric illness.Results:
The onset of new psychiatric illness was present in 8 out of 30 (26.66%) cases in group 2 when compared with 2 out of 30 (6.66%) cases in Group 1, with a relative risk of 4 (95% confidence interval 0.9247-17.3023). In 10 cases, the pattern of psychiatric illness was depression (16.66%), anxiety (6.6%), posttraumatic stress disorder (3.33%), acute psychosis (3.33%), and acute stress disorder (3.33%). Both groups were compared in terms of socio-demographic profile, inflammatory markers, and computed tomography severity score, and no significant difference was noted between the two. A relative risk of 4 indicates that COVID-19-infected individuals who lose their sense of smell or taste are more likely to develop new-onset psychiatric illness.Conclusion:
Impact of COVID-19 on the central nervous system is very evident, and loss of smell or taste symptoms could be an early marker. Early recognition and prompt treatment with immunotherapy or newer therapies will prevent the emergence of psychiatric disturbance and its disability.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
Web of Science
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Annals of Indian Psychiatry
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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