The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Other less common symptoms that affect some patients include aches and pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, and skin rashes or color changes. on the fingers or toes.
These physical symptoms appear to be predominant, but they are not the only consequences that can be expected. In my recent book I analyze the psychological aspects of COVID-19.
Coronaviruses have wreaked havoc on health before. It happened in the outbreaks caused by the SARS-CoV that emerged in China in 2003, and also with the MERS-CoV that appeared in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Looking at the psychological consequences seen in previous coronavirus outbreaks, what predictions can we make for COVID-19?
In the case of SARS, an increase in cases of depression and post-traumatic stress was observed among the population confined to their homes compared to those who did not have to go through said confinement.
In Italy, a survey of 6,700 people has revealed the impact of confinement on mental health. Their results showed an increase in the levels of depression, especially among women, young people, low-income people and those with unstable jobs. The most affected were those who lived alone, those who could not leave their home to go to work and those who had a case of COVID-19 among their relatives. Other investigations carried out in the same country have reported symptoms of anxiety and sleep problems.
In the case of health personnel, the incidence is higher than in the general population, especially among those who have been exposed to patients with COVID-19, according to Italian data again. Women without stable relationships are the most affected by depression and post-traumatic stress.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the population subjected to high levels of stress, given the situation of uncertainty about the new disease and its speed of contagion, has suffered important consequences.
The next pandemic to mitigate
The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on mental health is an aspect that professionals are currently trying to mitigate. However, in some cases they have been overwhelmed by the number of patients who require their services.
The first wave has served to highlight the social weaknesses regarding the protection of mental health. Especially among the most vulnerable population, such as women, especially those who live alone or do not have a stable relationship.
Nor can the long-term consequences of depression be forgotten. British researchers conducted a study with 1,413 participants who had suffered from depression, and found that men tended to live less due to heart-related problems. This relationship only occurs in the case of endogenous depression, that is, that produced by external causes, as in confinement.
While the mental health consequences of COVID-19 can be expected to fade as the years go by, others could linger for a long time.
Juan Moisés de la Serna, Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience, International University of Valencia
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original.
