Study Identifies Link , Between Long COVID , and Poor Mental Health.
'The Guardian' reports that people who feel anxious,
highly-stressed, lonely or depressed before catching
coronavirus are more prone to suffering from long COVID.
According to a Harvard analysis, when compared to people in good
mental health, people with high levels of psychological distress
are 32%-46% more likely to suffer from long-term COVID.
According to a Harvard analysis, when compared to people in good
mental health, people with high levels of psychological distress
are 32%-46% more likely to suffer from long-term COVID.
The team behind the study says the results
highlight the importance of mental health care
to reduce the impact of long COVID.
The associations were stronger with these risk factors than with other things we know to be associated with long COVID, such as obesity, hypertension and asthma, Adrian James, President of the Royal College
of Psychiatrists, via 'The Guardian'.
Symptoms of long COVID include fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog and heart problems. .
Researchers note that psychological distress can drive
chronic inflammation and disrupt the immune system, which
could be what makes people more vulnerable to long COVID.
Mental health has also been linked to
being more susceptible to common colds
and other respiratory tract infections.
People with severe mental illness are at
higher risk of developing a range of physical
health problems, including long COVID, Adrian James, President of the Royal College
of Psychiatrists, via 'The Guardian'.
People with long COVID must be able
to access the healthcare they need,
including appropriate specialist
mental health provision, Adrian James, President of the Royal College
of Psychiatrists, via 'The Guardian'.
The team's findings were
published in 'JAMA Psychiatry.'