New research has shed more light on the long-lasting impact that severe COVID-19 illness can have on our mental health, with experts calling on greater attention to the psychological side of treatment for recovering patients.
The peer-reviewed study published in the Lancet medical journal on Monday found that people who tested positive for COVID-19 and were bedridden for at least seven days due to acute illness experienced higher levels of depression and anxiety lasting up to 16 months.
In contrast, people with mild COVID-19 infection who did not require bedrest were at a lower risk of adverse mental health outcomes.
For most patients, the symptoms of depression and anxiety subsided within two months, the study showed.
