The hardest thing about tackling COVID-19 is dealing with the unknowns. Lately those unknowns have been long term symptoms not present in other diseases.
One such symptom is an increased risk of immune-mediated depression. It is becoming more common in survivors of COVID-19. This type of depression refers to the immune system and how it is linked and triggers depression among the survivors.
Researchers looked at the link of the immune system and how it can contribute to an increased rate of depression, especially when individuals tend to have autoimmune conditions and diseases.
A recent study from Harvard found that 52% of COVID-19 survivors met the criteria for moderate to severe depression four months after initial infection. Inflammation caused by the virus triggers the autoimmune response that links to a rise in depression.