Long-term psychiatric disorders in families of severe COVID-19 patients

AimThe present study aimed to describe in detail the changes to and assess the risk factors for poor long-term outcomes of psychiatric disorders in families of COVID-19 patients.MethodsA single-center, retrospective study using questionnaires. Family members of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe COVID-19 participated. Psychiatric disorders refer to the psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by the patient's family.ResultsForty-six family members completed the survey and were analyzed. Anxiety, depression, and PTSD occurred in 24%, 33%, and 2% of family members, respectively, and psychiatric disorders occurred in 39%. On multivariable analysis, living in the same house with the patient was independently associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders in families of COVID-19 patients (OR, 0.180; 95% CI, 0.036-0.908; p = 0.038). Furthermore, four family members overcame psychiatric disorders, and six family members newly developed psychiatric disorders during the one-year follow-up period.ConclusionApproximately 40% of family members had long-term psychiatric disorders, and some of them overcame the psychiatric disorders, and some newly developed psychiatric disorders over the one-year follow-up. Living in the same house with the patient was possibly significantly associated with the reduction of long-term symptoms of psychiatric disorders, but this result must be interpreted with care. Further large studies are needed to examine the factors associated with the long-term mental status of family members. This is a single-center, retrospective study, and 39% of family members had long-term psychiatric disorders, and some of them overcame psychiatric disorders, whereas some newly developed psychiatric disorders during the one-year follow-up period. In addition, living in the same house with the patient was independently associated with the reduction of psychiatric disorders. Thus, living in the same house with the patient was significantly associated with the reduction of long-term psychiatric disorders.image