Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Trajectories the Year after COVID-19 Hospitalization

Riccardo Serra, Cristian Borrazzo, Paolo Vassalini, Chiara Di Nicolantonio, Alexia E. Koukopoulos, Cecilia Tosato, Flavio Cherubini, Francesco Alessandri, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Claudio Maria Mastroianni, Gabriella D’Ettorre and Lorenzo Tarsitani
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Riccardo Serra: Department of Human Neurosciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
Cristian Borrazzo: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Paolo Vassalini: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Chiara Di Nicolantonio: Department of Human Neurosciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
Alexia E. Koukopoulos: Department of Human Neurosciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
Cecilia Tosato: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Flavio Cherubini: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Francesco Alessandri: Intensive Care Unit, Department of General and Specialist Surgery “Paride Stefanini”, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giancarlo Ceccarelli: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Claudio Maria Mastroianni: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Gabriella D’Ettorre: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Lorenzo Tarsitani: Department of Human Neurosciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: Background : Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hospitalization has been related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Available information is limited by insufficient follow-up and lack of longitudinal studies. Baseline factors (e.g., sex; obesity) have been related to PTSD, but post-hospitalization factors have not been studied. Objective : This study aimed to analyse prevalence, baseline, post-discharge factors and possible clinical courses of PTSD after hospitalization for COVID-19. Method : 109 patients (94.7% of the original sample) completed a programme of three follow-up telephone assessments during the year following hospitalization. Data included clinical and sociodemographic factors as well as psychometric tools assessing PTSD, social support, and perception of threat to life (PTL). Mixture model analysis was performed to study the longitudinal course of PTSD symptoms. Chronic (>6 months) PTSD predictors were also analysed. Results : 1-year PTSD period prevalence was 23.9%, peaking at six months; 11% of the patients suffered chronic PTSD. Pre- and post-hospitalization factors influenced the onset and course of PTSD over time. These included working status, PTL, and lack of social support. Interestingly, obesity, pulmonary diseases and family cluster infection seem specifically related to PTSD following COVID-19. Inversely, clinical interventions, older age and male gender were protective. Conclusions : PTSD following COVID-19 hospitalization is common. The analysed demographic, social, clinical, and psychological factors predict PTSD symptomatology over time and can modify odds of a chronic course. Clinicians could better identify cases at risk of a chronic PTSD course. Finally, treatment as usual appeared related to a better outcome and should be proposed to patients with PTSD.

Keywords: PTSD; COVID-19; longitudinal study; 1-year follow-up; treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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