Post-viral mental health sequelae in infected persons associated with COVID-19 and previous epidemics and pandemics:...., 2022, Zurcher et al

Full title: Post-viral mental health sequelae in infected persons associated with COVID-19 and previous epidemics and pandemics: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence estimates

Abstract

Aims
Post-viral mental health problems (MHP) in COVID-19 patients and survivors were anticipated already during early stages of this pandemic. We aimed to synthesize the prevalence of the anxiety, depression, post-traumatic and general distress domain associated with virus epidemics since 2002.

Methods
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase from 2002 to April 14, 2021 for peer-reviewed studies reporting prevalence of MHP in adults with laboratory-confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-1, H1N1, MERS-CoV, H7N9, Ebolavirus, or SARS-CoV-2 infection. We included studies that assessed post-viral MHP with validated and frequently used scales. A three-level random-effects meta-analysis for dependent effect sizes was conducted to account for multiple outcome reporting. We pooled MHP across all domains and separately by severity (above mild or moderate-to-severe) and by acute (one month), ongoing (one to three months), and post-illness stages (longer than three months). A meta-regression was conducted to test for moderating effects, particularly for exploring estimate differences between SARS-Cov-2 and previous pandemics and epidemics. PROSPERO registration: CRD42020194535.

Results
We identified 59 studies including between 14 and 1002 participants and providing 187 prevalence estimates. MHP, in general, decreased from acute to post-illness from 46.3% to 38.8% and for mild and moderate-to-severe from 22.3% to 18.8%, respectively. We found no evidence of moderating effects except for non-random sampling and H1N1 showing higher prevalence. There was a non-significant trend towards lower MHP for SARS-CoV-2 compared to previous epidemics.

Conclusions
MHP prevalence estimates decreased over time but were still on a substantial level at post-illness. Post-viral mental health problems caused by SARS-CoV-2 could have been expected much earlier, given the previous post-viral sequelae.

Open access, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034122000909

 

"Within the patient communities affected by post-viral health issues, psychiatric and psychological outcomes are regarded very critically. Similar to communities affected by chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, these patient initiatives stress biological causal mechanisms over psychological or even social mechanisms [16], [17]. As there are no definitive diagnostic criteria for post-viral health issues such as Long Covid, we have decided to remain neutral in terms of terminology [18]. Therefore, in the remainder of this paper, we speak of post-viral mental health problems (MHP) rather than symptoms or mental disorders."

 

And the difference is...?

 

Extra-terrestrial teacher: "And of course that lot died out because their ecosystem was collapsing, but half their researchers carried on sh*tposting about made-up mental health disorders."