Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant psychological distress and mental health issues among
adults, but a synthesis of evidence on post-COVID psychological effects in adults is lacking. This systematic review
summarizes the evidence on psychological effects caused by COVID-19 in adults post-recovery.
Objective: To study post-COVID psychological effects in adults.
Methods: The literature search was done in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases for articles published
from January 2020 to September 2021. Search terms used were “COVID-19”, “psychological effects”, “mental health”,
and “adults”. A systematic approach was used using PRISMA guidelines. Three independent reviewers did study
selection and data extraction. The inclusion criteria for review was met by eleven studies. The psychological outcomes
assessed were depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and overall
mental health status.
Results: The review found high rates of mental health issues among COVID-19 survivors, especially PTSD (33.6%)
and CFS (27.3%). Anxiety, depression, and insomnia were reported in 39% of patients. The results highlight the
significant psychological impacts of COVID-19 that persist after recovery.
Conclusion: Adults across occupations and regions experienced substantial adverse mental health outcomes like
PTSD, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and insomnia after recovering from COVID-19. Further large-scale,
geographically diverse studies with longer follow-ups conclusively establish prevalence rates. Identification of at-risk
groups and modifiable risk factors can help guide prevention and treatment strategies so as to address the COVID-19
pandemic's mental health fallout.