Findings of long-term depression up to 8 years post infection from West Nile virus.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the psychological sequelae following West Nile virus (WNV) infection among a large cohort of participants over an 8-year period.


METHODS
We conducted a longitudinal study to assess mental health outcomes among a cohort of 171 WNV-positive participants in Houston, Texas.


RESULTS
We found 35% of participants met the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale definition for new onset clinical depression. Multivariate analysis found that severe depression was significantly associated with gender and physical disability (Barthel index score <100) at 5 years post-WNV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Practitioners should be aware of depression as a possible outcome in patients who were infected with WNV and include this as a part of their routine assessment.
The University of Texas Health Science Center, USA.
Melissa S
MS
Nolan
Anne M
AM
Hause
Kristy O
KO
Murray
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
Barthel index; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale; West Nile virus; depression; long-term outcomes; longitudinal study