Relationship between Anxiety, Depression, and Susceptibility to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Proof of Concept

Vedhara, Kavita; Ayling, Kieran; Jia, Ru; Fairclough, Lucy; Morling, Joanne R.; Ball, Jonathan K.; Knight, Holly; Blake, Holly; Corner, Jessica; Denning, Chris; Bolton, Kirsty; Jackson, Hannah; Coupland, Carol; Tighe, Patrick

Abstract

Background: Psychological factors can influence susceptibility to viral infections. We examined whether such influences are evident in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods: Participants (n=102) completed measures of anxiety, depression, positive mood, and loneliness and provided a blood sample for the measurement of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins. Results: SARS-CoV-2 was significantly negatively associated with anxiety and depression. The model remained significant after adjustment for age and gender, although anxiety and depression were no longer significant independent predictors. Conclusions: These findings offer early support for the hypothesis that psychological factors may influence susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Citation

Vedhara, K., Ayling, K., Jia, R., Fairclough, L., Morling, J. R., Ball, J. K., Knight, H., Blake, H., Corner, J., Denning, C., Bolton, K., Jackson, H., Coupland, C., & Tighe, P. (2022). Relationship between Anxiety, Depression, and Susceptibility to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Proof of Concept. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 225(12), 2137-2141. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiac006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 7, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 12, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 15, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 1, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 13, 2023
• Journal: The Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Print ISSN: 0022-1899
• Electronic ISSN: 1537-6613
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 225
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 2137-2141
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiac006
• Keywords: Infectious Diseases; Immunology and Allergy
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7351030
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiac006/6504010