Psychiatric Manifestations of COVID-19 and Their Social Significance

Abstract

Alterations in complex behavioral patterns during the extended period of the COVID-19 pandemic are predicted to promote a variety of psychiatric disease symptoms due to enforced social isolation and self-quarantine. Accordingly, multifaceted mental health problems will continue to increase, thereby creating a challenge for society and the health care system in general. Recent studies show that COVID-19 can directly or indirectly influence the central nervous system, potentially causing neurological pathologies such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. Thus, chronic COVID-19-related disease processes have the potential to cause serious mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Importantly, mental health problems can foster systemic changes in functionally-linked neuroendocrine conditions that heighten a person’s susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. These altered defense mechanisms may include compromised “self-control” and “self-care”, as well as a “lack of insight” into the danger posed by the virus. These consequences may have serious social impacts on the future of COVID-19 survivors. Compounding the functionally related issues of altered mental health parameters and viral susceptibility are the potential effects of compromised immunity on the establishment of functional herd immunity. Within this context, mental health takes on added importance, particularly in terms of the need to increase support for mental health research and community-based initiatives. Thus, COVID-19 infections continue to reveal mental health targets, a process we must now be prepared to deal with.

Craving variations in patients with substance use disorder and gambling during COVID-19 lockdown: The Italian experience

“…Our data suggest that craving, regardless of whether determined by substances or behaviors, was globally reduced in a period that could be highly stressogenic. This data was unexpected, and is in contrast with other studies reporting increased levels of anxiety, depression, and psychotic symptoms during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic[ 20 , 21 ]. Moreover, in alcohol and substance users, other detrimental factors can act synergistically during the pandemic period: Psychological discomfort from social isolation, restricted freedom, and a quantitative and qualitative reduction in the addiction services’ assistance and in the stretching of their service.…”

Whole-Body Vibration Exercise: A Possible Intervention in the Management of Post COVID-19 Complications?

“…It is pointed out that the COVID-19 infection can, directly or indirectly, influence the central nervous system, potentially causing neurological diseases. In consequence, chronic COVID-19-related disease processes have the potential to cause serious and undesirable mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders [88]. Moreover, it has been reported that patients with COVID-19 experienced high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, and the result of a randomized trial highlights the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving the psychological health among patients with COVID-19 [89].…”

Psychiatric symptoms subsequent to COVID-19 and their association with clinical features: A retrospective investigation

“…Psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 have been also highlighted [ Putri et al , 2021 ; Vanderlind et al , 2021 ], the most frequently detected being anxiety, depression and PTSD features. Screening for such disturbances has been thus suggested in this population [ Pistarini et al , 2021 ], in the light of their negative influence on both prognosis and functional outcomes [ Ptacek et al , 2020 ].…”