Selected Psychological Stress and Cognitive Function Parameters in Patients Suffering from COVID-19 Induced Telogen Effluvium
September 2022
TLDR COVID-19 patients with hair loss experienced more cognitive issues and these issues were linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
The study examined the psychological stress and cognitive function in 32 patients with COVID-19 induced Telogen effluvium (TE), a common type of hair loss, compared to 32 patients who had COVID-19 but did not develop TE. The patients completed two questionnaires: DASS-21 (The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale), and a new questionnaire on cognitive functions. The results showed significant differences in cognitive functioning (p=0.008) between the two groups, with TE patients experiencing more cognitive deficits. There was also a borderline difference in the severity of anxiety symptoms (p=0.088). The study found a strong positive correlation between the deterioration of cognitive functioning and the severity of symptoms of depression (p<0.001), anxiety (p<0.001), and stress (p<0.001). Therefore, TE in COVID-19 patients could indicate a deterioration of cognitive functioning, which is associated with the severity of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
