The testing for COVID-19 in symptomatic patients as a protective factor against stress, anxiety, and depression

Abstract Objectives: to determine the frequency of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in symptomatic patients for COVID-19. To evaluate the associated factors involved in these variants. Methods: between May/June of 2020, it was conducted a prospective cross-section study with symptomatic participants for COVID-19 (n=300). It was applied an online questionnaire and the DASS-21 to evaluate the mental health of participants. Results: it was observed that 28.6%, 29.7% and 27% of the participants showed severe/extreme levels symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. The testing for COVID-19 application had constituted a protective factor for the development of psychiatric morbidity, once it had shown significant association in the low frequencies of severe/extreme depression [Odds Ratio (OR)]= 0.26; p=0.002) and stress (OR=0.39; p=0.01). Conclusion: individuals that are symptomatic for COVID-19 are a vulnerable group that may present high symptomatology for depression, anxiety, and stress. The identification of psychiatric morbidity frequency and its associated factors may contribute for the development of mental health strategies aiming at the prevention and mitigation of psychological impact in COVID-19 symptomatic population during the pandemic.

摘要 研究目的：明确新冠病毒感染有症状人群中应激、焦虑及抑郁症状的发生频率，并分析此类精神症状的相关影响因素。研究方法：本研究采用前瞻性横断面研究设计，于2020年5—6月间开展，共纳入300名新冠病毒感染有症状参与者。通过线上问卷与抑郁焦虑压力量表21项版（DASS-21）评估参与者的心理健康状况。研究结果：结果显示，分别有28.6%、29.7%与27%的参与者表现出重度/极重度的应激、焦虑及抑郁症状。新冠病毒检测为精神疾病发病的保护因素：该因素在重度/极重度抑郁与应激的低发生率中呈现显著关联，其中重度/极重度抑郁的比值比（OR）=0.26，P=0.002；重度/极重度应激的OR=0.39，P=0.01。研究结论：新冠病毒感染有症状人群属于易感群体，可能出现较高水平的抑郁、焦虑及应激症状。明确此类精神疾病的发生频率及其相关影响因素，可为制定心理健康干预策略提供依据，以在新冠疫情期间预防并缓解该人群所承受的心理冲击。