Depression and Anxiety in inpatients of dedicated COVID-19 Hospital.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a RNA virus predominantly involving lungs causing mild to severe respiratory illness. Psychiatric disorders are much common in COVID 19 pandemic including depression 33% prevalence and anxiety 28% prevalence in general population((1)). The interactions between immune systems and neurotransmitters((2)), neurotrophism((3)) and psychological stressors((4)) emerged as a mechanisms underpinning mood disorders, psychosis. However no studies are done in Indian population in estimating burden of Anxiety and depression in inpatients of dedicated COVID-19 hospital. AIMS: 1. To estimate the burden of depression and anxiety in COVID 19 positive patients in a tertiary hospital. 2. To evaluate its relationship with inflammatory markers. METHODS: Patients were screened during tele-couselling after taking verbal consent using GAD7 and PHQ-9 questionnaire to assess anxiety and depression. Patients were examined in the wards; those patients who fulfill diagnostic criteria for depression and anxiety according to ICD-10 were included. Routine inflammatory markers sent during admission were noted, patients are followed up during course of hospital stay, and treatment response was noted. RESULTS: Prevalence of depression is 13.6% and anxiety 17.8% in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID 19 infection. Females suffered more for both anxiety and depression. Positively correlated with inflammatory markers especially serum LDH and baseline systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) which reflects immune response and systemic inflammation to infection. CONCLUSION: Programs should be designed to reduce the stress in general population in collaboration with mental health professionals. 1. Luo M, Guo L, Yu M, Jiang W, Wang H. The psychological and mental impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on medical staff and general public - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Sep;291:113190. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113190. Epub 2020 Jun 7. PMID: 32563745; PMCID: PMC7276119. 2. Mazza MG, De Lorenzo R, Conte C, Poletti S, Vai B, Bollettini I, Melloni EMT, Furlan R, Ciceri F, Rovere-Querini P; COVID-19 BioB Outpatient Clinic Study group, Benedetti F. Anxiety and depression in COVID-19 survivors: Role of inflammatory and clinical predictors. Brain Behav Immun. 2020 Oct;89:594-600. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.07.037. Epub 2020 Jul 30. PMID: 32738287; PMCID: PMC7390748. 3. Rogers J, Chesney E, Oliver D, Pollak T, McGuire P, Fusar-Poli P et al. Psychiatric and neuropsychiatric presentations associated with severe coronavirus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis with comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(7):611-627. 4. Choi EPH, Hui BPH, Wan EYF. Depression and Anxiety in Hong Kong during COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 May 25;17(10):3740. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103740. PMID: 32466251; PMCID: PMC7277420.