Social support and clinical improvement in COVID-19 positive patients in China

Objectives: To explore the relationship between psychosocial support related factors and the mental health of COVID-19 positive patients. Methods: This exploratory study of 35 COVID-19 positive patients were enrolled between February 1 to March 1, 2020. Sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and social support were measured and social support related data of participants were collected. Psychological intervention was administered and patients were followed two weeks post intervention. Linear regression was performed to explore the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and improvement of psychological symptoms. Findings: Thirty-two individuals exhibited sleep, depressive and anxiety symptoms which improved post support intervention. At baseline, symptoms were associated with gender, severity of pneumonia, social support. Better social support at follow-up and improvement from COVID-19 predicted improvement in their psychological symptoms. Discussion: This initial evidence from China may stress the importance of administering psychosocial intervention during the treatment of COVID-19 for better patient outcomes in other countries.