Investigation of the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in individuls with diagnosed COVID-19

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between May and November 2022 at the Azadi Teaching Hospital Kirkuk, Iraq. The study population consisted of 980 people who had tested positive for COVID-19. Data were collected online (Google Forms) using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PTSDQ). Frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used for categorical variables. The data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (Kruskal Wallis) and a two-sample t-test. More than half of the participants were women (n=545, 55.8%). With mean age 35.58±12.70 More than a quarter of the participants were 26 to 33 years of age. Participants had a mean PTSDQ score of 47.7 ± 11.9. Gender, educational, and method of infection affected their PTSDQ scores. Conclusion: Participants had a moderate PTSDQ score.