The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of those who survived the illness but underwent long treatment and hospitalization. Much research has highlighted signs of emotional distress in those who experienced intensive care, and the procedures implemented to fight the infection. The present study investigated the effects of the illness experience in 40 subjects admitted to a rehabilitation unit after discharge from intensive care by focusing on the possibility of differences in emotional well-being depending on the type of ventilation. The results of the administration of psychological scales for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder showed that many subjects experienced some form of emotional distress. There were no differences between patients who underwent invasive ventilation and those who did not.
Keywords: COVID-19; anxiety; depression; intensive care; psychological distress.