Subjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post COVID 19 patients
Abstract Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has been reported in individuals who recovered from COVID-19. Those with OD after COVID-19 (COVID-19 group) exhibited more severe psychiatric symptoms than those with OD from other etiologies (non-COVID-19 group). This study investigates differences in psychologic...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07953-z |
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| author | Jae Hyun Yoo Tae-Suk Kim Ji Sun Kim Seung Hoon Lee Min Young Seo |
| author_facet | Jae Hyun Yoo Tae-Suk Kim Ji Sun Kim Seung Hoon Lee Min Young Seo |
| author_sort | Jae Hyun Yoo |
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| description | Abstract Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has been reported in individuals who recovered from COVID-19. Those with OD after COVID-19 (COVID-19 group) exhibited more severe psychiatric symptoms than those with OD from other etiologies (non-COVID-19 group). This study investigates differences in psychological symptoms and related clinical factors between these groups. Fifty-two participants (COVID-19 group: 26; non-COVID-19 group: 26) were recruited. Both objective and subjective olfactory function were assessed, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress were measured using self-reported scales. There were no significant differences in objective and subjective olfactory function or psychological symptoms between the groups, except for age and the short version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-negative statements (sQOD-NS). The sQOD-NS score was negatively correlated with OD duration only in the COVID-19 group. In both groups, the sQOD-NS was significantly correlated with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores. Mediation analysis showed that OD duration indirectly affected PHQ-9 scores via the sQOD-NS in the entire sample, particularly in the COVID-19 group. These findings suggest that subjective distress from OD may mediate the relationship between OD duration and depressive symptoms in COVID-19 patients, highlighting the need for targeted psychiatric interventions after recovery from COVID-19. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2fe2fac22ab84b5e9f1674240d4053b8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2fe2fac22ab84b5e9f1674240d4053b82025-08-20T04:01:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511810.1038/s41598-025-07953-zSubjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post COVID 19 patientsJae Hyun Yoo0Tae-Suk Kim1Ji Sun Kim2Seung Hoon Lee3Min Young Seo4Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of KoreaDepartment of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of KoreaDepartment of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan HospitalDivision of Rhinology and Sleep Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Ansan HospitalDivision of Rhinology and Sleep Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Ansan HospitalAbstract Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has been reported in individuals who recovered from COVID-19. Those with OD after COVID-19 (COVID-19 group) exhibited more severe psychiatric symptoms than those with OD from other etiologies (non-COVID-19 group). This study investigates differences in psychological symptoms and related clinical factors between these groups. Fifty-two participants (COVID-19 group: 26; non-COVID-19 group: 26) were recruited. Both objective and subjective olfactory function were assessed, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress were measured using self-reported scales. There were no significant differences in objective and subjective olfactory function or psychological symptoms between the groups, except for age and the short version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-negative statements (sQOD-NS). The sQOD-NS score was negatively correlated with OD duration only in the COVID-19 group. In both groups, the sQOD-NS was significantly correlated with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores. Mediation analysis showed that OD duration indirectly affected PHQ-9 scores via the sQOD-NS in the entire sample, particularly in the COVID-19 group. These findings suggest that subjective distress from OD may mediate the relationship between OD duration and depressive symptoms in COVID-19 patients, highlighting the need for targeted psychiatric interventions after recovery from COVID-19.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07953-zOlfaction disordersCOVID-19Depressive disorderAnxiety disordersPsychological distress |
| spellingShingle | Jae Hyun Yoo Tae-Suk Kim Ji Sun Kim Seung Hoon Lee Min Young Seo Subjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post COVID 19 patients Scientific Reports Olfaction disorders COVID-19 Depressive disorder Anxiety disorders Psychological distress |
| title | Subjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post COVID 19 patients |
| title_full | Subjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post COVID 19 patients |
| title_fullStr | Subjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post COVID 19 patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Subjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post COVID 19 patients |
| title_short | Subjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post COVID 19 patients |
| title_sort | subjective distress mediates the association between olfactory dysfunction duration and depression in post covid 19 patients |
| topic | Olfaction disorders COVID-19 Depressive disorder Anxiety disorders Psychological distress |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07953-z |
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