Long-Term Impact of Psychological Rehabilitation on Isolated Hospitalization Patients With COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of a psychological rehabilitation program that was effective on anxiety, depression, and quality of sleep in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This is longitudinal study. Thirteen patients in the experimental group who received a psychological rehabilitation program during hospitalization and 16 patients in the control group who received conservative treatment completed the questionnaire 6 mos after discharge. Questionnaires are the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Visual Analysis Scale, and the Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index. The Visual Analysis Scale for depression significantly improved in the experimental group compared with control group at discharge (E = -2.40, P < 0.001) and follow-up (E = -3.36, P < 0.001). The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores significantly improved at discharge (E = -4.05, P = 0.01 and E = -2.29, P = 0.01) but not at follow-up (E = -4.64, P = 0.12 and E = -1.81, P = 0.22). There are no significant interactions for Visual Analysis Scale for anxiety (E = -0.27, P = 0.79), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores (E = -1.48, P = 0.51), and insomnia (E = -0.69, P = 0.63) scores during the follow-up. Psychological rehabilitation showed a significant long-term reduction in depression, but not in anxiety. Therefore, continuous intervention and management of mental health are required after discharge.