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COVID-19 and its impact on the brain and Mind- A conceptual model and supporting evidence

Sy Atezaz Saeed1, Irene S Pastis2, Melody Grace Santos2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, 27834, Greenville, NC, United States. saeeds@ecu.edu.

The Psychiatric Quarterly
|March 18, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) impacts the brain, causing neuropsychiatric symptoms like anxiety and depression. The virus can directly affect the central nervous system (CNS), leading to conditions such as delirium and encephalitis.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, presents primarily as a respiratory illness.
  • Emerging evidence indicates SARS-CoV-2 affects multiple organs, including the brain, leading to neuropsychiatric manifestations.
  • Two pathways are proposed for brain involvement: direct viral impact and indirect stress-mediated effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence on COVID-19's impact on the brain and mental health.
  • To summarize reported neuropsychiatric symptoms in the general population during the pandemic.
  • To consolidate findings on direct central nervous system (CNS) involvement by SARS-CoV-2.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of previous outbreaks and current COVID-19 pandemic data.
  • Analysis of studies reporting on neuropsychiatric symptoms and CNS complications.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding direct and indirect mechanisms of brain involvement.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 is associated with increased anxiety, stress, poor sleep, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and depression.
  • Direct SARS-CoV-2 impact on the brain can manifest as encephalitis, encephalopathy, and altered mental status (AMS).
  • Evidence supports COVID-19's role in delirium, cerebrovascular events, and peripheral neurologic disorders.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 poses a significant threat to neurological and mental health.
  • Both direct viral invasion and pandemic-related stress contribute to neuropsychiatric sequelae.
  • Further research is crucial to understand and manage the long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19.
Keywords:
COVID-19Cerebrovascular eventsMental healthNeuropsychiatric disordersPsychiatric disorderSARS-CoV-2Stress response

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