Post-recovery Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Stigma in Early COVID-19 Pandemic Patients

COVID-19, the first pandemic experienced in the current generation, results various physical and mental stress and stigma. Stress (Korean version of the stress perception scale), anxiety and depression (hospital anxiety depression scale) and stigma was evaluated from the 20 patients recovered from the initial pandemic period, during February to March 2020. The average age was 51.3 (± 8.26) years old. The average hospital and therapeutic living center admission period was 26.8 (± 5.24) days, and the average period after discharge was 19.4 (± 4.33) days. The severity of the symptoms was 3 (15%) asymptomatic, 13 (65%) mild, and 4 (20%) severe (pneumonia). The average score on the perceive stress scale was 19.6 (± 6.52) and 65% (13/20) perceived moderate or severe stress status. The average score for hospital anxiety depression was 15.0 (± 5.45) points, the average score for anxiety was 6.6 ± 3.25 points, and the average score for depression was 8.4 (± 3.86). The average stigma score was 79.6 (± 16.16) points. Post-recovery patients from COVID-19 was perceived significant stress, experiencing anxiety, depression, and stigma in early pandemic period.