![]() ![]() "Although the underlying mechanism of the depression is likely different, at this point, we do not have any treatment data specific for patient's suffering from post COVID depression," Rosen said. What are the best ways to treat post-viral depression stemming from COVID-19? "Until the mechanism can be firmly established, the best forms of treatment for depression in long COVID will be uncertain."ģ. "It has been postulated that virus or remnants of the virus may persist in the brain and cause inflammation, cause alterations in brain chemical signaling, or possibly impair blood flow in small blood vessels, but the mechanism remains under investigation," he said. Rosen said that during the course of infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), virus does get into the brain, but the changes that occur as a result of this have not been fully elucidated. Depression is a well-studied condition that can develop as a result of a wide range of conditions affecting the brain, such as traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, infections of various kinds, and inflammation more broadly." "But for many patients, the cause of depression may be directly derived from the brain even absent any external stressors or adverse conditions. "Some element of depression in long COVID is undoubtedly situationally driven, that is an adverse psychological reaction to adverse life circumstances, including physical symptoms, job loss, and family stress," said Rosen. "Lastly, patients that have other post-COVID symptoms such as fatigue, pain or insomnia are more likely to experience depression as these symptoms are in themselves independent factors that often can trigger or worsen depression," he said.Ģ. What are the likely physiological and psychological mechanisms? Rosen said numerous studies point to the intensity of initial COVID-19 infection, including the need for hospitalization and ICU admission as a predictor of depression. Individuals with prior history of depression, anxiety and PTSD appear more likely to have exacerbation of those symptoms following COVID." "Risk factors for depression include previous depression, the severity of the COVID-19 acute infection (including the need for hospitalization), and the severity of a person’s other long COVID symptoms. "It is not known why some people suffer from depression after COVID-19 whereas others do not," said Rosen. Who's susceptible to depression after COVID and why? Rosen, chief psychiatry resident at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, has released his research conclusions about depression related to COVID. ![]() So I am not surprised if there is increased depression related to COVID." Answering questions with current informationĭr. With the ongoing pandemic, people are feeling isolated, and discouraged by the never-ending surges we have seen. ![]() "There is no objective test, and it is based on how a person feels. ""Depression is a little more subjective," he said. Mendoza said the idea of COVID-related depression, which is also up, is not a surprise to him. Long-term impacts from COVID are not all physical. Dartmouth Medical Center's health care system was one of the first in the country to start a long COVID (or Post Acute COVID Syndrome) clinic. He said it could be years before answers are forthcoming. Lawson said doctors are still trying to define the long-term impacts of COVID. "It is very rare and the rate is certainly lower than is the rate of people getting COVID." "The fear of the vaccines causing myocarditis is a non-issue," he said. Vaccination should also be a priority, Lawson said, to help protect the public. Per 1,000 veterans, there were 23 additional cardiac incidents." "It's frustrating for providers because we just do not know the answer yet," Laberis said "One study done by Veterans Affairs studied 5.8 million veterans. "There is talk of things like myocarditis being related to COVID, but there are still very few confirmed cases." "You have to distinguish if COVID led to the problem, or is it incidental?" he said. He said hypertension and cardiomyopathy are fairly common in the general public. Mendoza said he wonders if patients with heart complaints are coming in because they have those comorbidities in addition to having had COVID. I often refer them to Dartmouth-Hitchcock, where there is a specialty clinic for long COVID." "Some of the questions are about people having chest pains, or experiencing fogginess after COVID. "Occasionally I get calls from providers with questions, but that's it," he said. Artemio Mendoza, an infectious disease doctor, said he does not typically see COVID patients after recovery, or those deemed long COVID patients. ![]()
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