Association of Covid-19 With the Occurrence of a Depressive Disorder.

Background: Depressive disorder is characterized by a persistent low mood (sadness, irritability, or emptiness) or a loss of pleasure, accompanied by other cognitive, behavioral, or neurovegetative symptoms that significantly impair a person's ability to function. Anxiety and fear-related disorders are marked by excessive anxiety and fear, which lead to behavioral disturbances and cause significant distress or impair personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other key areas of functioning.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze whether there are differences in the development of depressive symptoms between COVID-19 patients and patients with symptoms of the flu or common cold.

Methods: This is a prospective study that included sixty participants: thirty with COVID-19 and thirty without COVID-19. Data were collected from the ambulatory observational records of participants, documenting their symptoms. We analyzed the relationship between variables such as age, sex, education, and the level of potential depression. The participants were divided into two groups: one consisting of individuals with COVID-19 and the other of individuals without COVID-19. All participants were male and female, aged between 40 and 65 years, and had no previous history of depressive disorder. The first group consisted of patients with COVID-19 who were treated at home but were examined at our outpatient clinic and subsequently sent home.

Results: Statistical data processing was performed using the Excel program and the R statistical data processing program. Percentages are calculated in relation to 30 respondents in each group.There was no statistically significant correlation between the level of education in Group 1 and the development of depression(Spearman ro=0.007, P=0.972). In Group 1 (Covid ) there is a statistically significant correlation between the age of the subjects and the development of depression (Spearman ro=0.44, P=0.015). A positive value of the Spearman correlation coefficient means that the score increases with the age of the respondent. Three questions with the highest score in group 1 were: Question 2=71, Questions 15 and 16=66, Question 14=65; three questions with the highest score in group 2 were: Question 2=74, Question 1 =50, Question 18=46.

Conclusion: COVID-19 can contribute to the development of depression. In our study, 16.7% of patients with COVID-19 showed signs of depression, with 10% experiencing mild depression and 6.7% experiencing moderate depression. Patients in the first group, particularly those of older age, were more likely to develop mild or moderate depression associated with COVID-19. Additionally, no statistically significant correlation was found between the level of education in Group 1 and the development of depression.