The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on major depressive disorder symptomatology
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Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has a Spanish prevalence of
1.363.200 people. Regarding MDD pathophysiology, even though there are various
hypothesis, the exact cause isn’t known. SARS-CoV-2 infection is causing a worldwide
pandemic with more than 40 million cases and more than 1,5 million of deaths all
over the World. It is known that is transmitted via small droplets and aerosols, and
that while there’s a proportion of people that is asymptomatic, others suffer from
Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome and other severe complications. Regarding the
pathophysiology, it is discovered that the virus interacts with the immune system
producing a cytokine release syndrome contributing to tissue damage. Previous
studies indicate that since the pandemic begin, there has been an increase on
depressive symptomatology and MDD. Linking with previous data that indicates that
one of the most accepted and studied theory of the MDD aetiology is the
proinflammatory hypothesis, the virus may cause depressive symptoms via
inflammatory pathways.
Main objective: to demonstrate that infection with SARS-CoV-2 aggravates MDD
symptomatology in previously-diagnosed patients from Xarxa de Salut Mental i
Addiccions de Girona (XSMA).
Secondary objective: to study if patients with higher inflammatory parameters
suffer from a major worsening of the MDD symptomatology.
Study design: An observational prospective cohort study with matching carried
out from August 2020 to October 2022 in the XSMA of Girona region. The patient’s
follow-up will take 1 year.
Participants: The study will be formed by adults with a previous MDD diagnosis of
the XSMA of Girona region which had been diagnosed according DSM-5 diagnosis
criteria. They will be selected by a consecutive non-probabilistic model, in theCentres of Mental Health of Girona region, Centres de Salut Mental d’Adults (CSMA),
and included in the study when their informed consent will be signed