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. 2023 Jan 8;11(1):2164498.
doi: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2164498. eCollection 2023.

Long COVID and mental health correlates: a new chronic condition fits existing patterns

Michael L Goodman  1 , Stephen Molldrem  2 , Aleisha Elliott  3 , David Robertson  4 , Philip Keiser  1   5
Affiliations

Long COVID and mental health correlates: a new chronic condition fits existing patterns

Michael L Goodman et al. Health Psychol Behav Med. .

Abstract

Background: Emerging Long COVID research indicates the condition has major population health consequence. Other chronic conditions have previously been associated with functional and mental health challenges - including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide ideation, substance use and lower life satisfaction.

Methods: This study explores correlations between self-reported Long COVID, functional and mental health challenges among a random community-based sample of people (n = 655) aged 20-50 years who contracted COVID-19 prior to vaccination in a Texas county. A random sample of eligible participants was mailed a link to participate in a semi-structured questionnaire. Participant responses, including open-ended responses regarding their experience following COVID-19, were paired with health system data.

Results: Long COVID was associated with increased presence of depression (13% increase), anxiety (28% increase), suicide ideation (10% increase), PTSD (20% increase), and decreased life satisfaction and daily functioning. Structural equation modeling, controlling for sociodemographic variables and imposing a theoretical framework from existing chronic disease research, demonstrated correlations between Long COVID and higher PTSD, suicide ideation and lower life satisfaction were mediated by higher daily functional challenges and common mental disorders.

Conclusions: Basic and applied, interdisciplinary research is urgently needed to characterize the population-based response to the new challenge of Long COVID.

Keywords: Common mental disorders; Long COVID; PTSD; chronic diseases; suicide ideation.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Structural Equation Model of mental health correlates and Long COVID among a community sample of adults aged 20–50 years.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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