Almost half of those who test positive for Covid-19 go on to develop depression, research has found.
Health experts believe that a high number of patients have been suffering with mental health issues as well as common coronavirus symptoms.
Scientists from Anglia Ruskin University believe that depression could be more common than experts previously thought – especially around those who are more vulnerable.
Professor Shahina Pardhan co-authored a study of 1,002 Covid-19 patients which shows that 48% were categorised as having moderate to severe depression.
Those with persistent symptoms, low family income and poor overall health status were more likely to be affected, the Sun reports.
Prof Pardhan said: “Our study revealed considerable depression among people who had been infected.”
Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest the pandemic has doubled rates of depression from one in 10 people to one in five.
It can be triggered by self-isolation, fear of being infected or infecting someone else or the economic downturn.
The study was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.