Effect of Lianhua Qingwen on depression and anxiety in COVID-19 patients with asymptomatic or mild symptoms

Background and objectives

Patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) face not only physical strains but also significant psychological stress, highlighting the importance of addressing their mental health concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Lianhua Qingwen on the psychological well-being of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients, providing empirical evidence to guide clinical practices.

Methods

Conducted in eight shelter hospitals in Shanghai, the study employed a cluster randomization method to allocate patients equally into either the Lianhua Qingwen group or the control group. The Lianhua Qingwen group received oral doses of four capsules or one packet of granules three times daily for 14 days. In contrast, the control group received standardized treatment according to the diagnostic and treatment plan, excluding Lianhua Qingwen. Mental health was assessed using the Self-rating Depression Scale and Self-rating Anxiety Scale, with symptom reporting on the 7th and 14th days, accompanied by nucleic acid test result screenshots. A follow-up investigation on new disease occurrence was conducted six months post-discharge.

Results

Among the 2,652 valid questionnaire respondents, the Lianhua Qingwen group accounted for 1,665 cases, characterized by a higher proportion of females (32.7% vs. 26.9%), younger age (44.8 vs. 46.2 years), lower percentages of asymptomatic infections (27.6% vs. 38.5%), higher baseline Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores (2.7 vs. 1.9), and higher Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 scores (1.9 vs. 1.4). Further multivariate logistic regression analysis explored factors influencing the alleviation of depressive and anxiety symptoms during follow-up, revealing that Lianhua Qingwen use was an independent factor in reducing anxiety (odds ratio = 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.14–1.65, p = 0.001) and depression (odds ratio = 1.42, 95% confidence interval 1.19–1.69, p < 0.0001). Lianhua Qingwen increased the likelihood of reducing anxiety by 37% and depression by 42%.

Conclusions

Lianhua Qingwen significantly alleviated anxiety and depression symptoms in COVID-19 patients, suggesting its potential therapeutic efficacy in mitigating these conditions.

Full text:

https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2835-6357/FIM-2023-00106

The study was recently published in the Future Integrative Medicine.

Future Integrative Medicine (FIM) publishes both basic and clinical research, including but not limited to randomized controlled trials, intervention studies, cohort studies, observational studies, qualitative and mixed method studies, animal studies, and systematic reviews.

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