Risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder in post-COVID patients, Menoufia governorate ,Egypt.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychiatric disorder based upon stress experiences following traumatic events such as wars, natural disasters and traffic accidents. The disorder is characterized by a host of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) including intrusive thoughts, vigilance, avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, emotional numbing and physiological hyper-arousal. Exposure to infectious disease epidemics could result in psychological trauma and psychiatric problems like PTSD. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorders among post-COVID patients. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted from 1st of September 2021 to the last of October 2023. Data were collected from 328 participants about the sociodemographic status, COVID and post-COVID symptoms severity, post-COVID post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms illustrated through post traumatic checklist the civilian version (PCL-C). Results: The PTSD prevalence was 8.5% .The multivariate regression revealed that history of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and impaired activities of daily living were more likely to be associated with PTSD. Conclusion: Post-COVID patients were susceptible to PTSD especially if had been hospitalized in ward or intensive care unit due to COVID infection or suffered impaired activities of daily living (ADL).