Investigating the Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Patients Who Have Recovered From COVID-19

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 97 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and had a history of hospitalization were selected using a cluster sampling method. Data was collected through demographic questionnaires created by the researcher. The studied variables were first analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, followed by appropriate statistical tests to examine the relationships between variables. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered for all tests. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21 statistical software. Results: The average PTSD score was severe in 48% of the recovered patients. Regression results indicated that variables such as age, education, marital status, occupation, and illness positively affected the development of PTSD. The relationship between PTSD and age was direct, with men having higher average PTSD scores than women. Additionally, individuals with lower levels of education were more likely to exhibit PTSD. Married individuals showed higher rates of PTSD than others. Retired individuals had higher PTSD scores compared to those in other occupations. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between PTSD and physical or mental illness (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results, at least half of the individuals who faced COVID-19 are at risk of psychological effects and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Timely counseling and treatment services may prevent potential long-term consequences.