What can psychiatrists learn from SARS and MERS outbreaks?

Type Journal Article Author Iris E. Sommer Author P. Roberto Bakker URL https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanpsy/PIIS2215-0366(20)30219-4.pdf Series The Lancet Comment Volume 7 Publication The Lancet Psychiatry Date 18/05/2020 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/ S2215-0366(20)30219-4 Abstract While standard care for patients with psychiatric disorders must continue during the current COVID-19 pandemic, psychiatrists also need to treat psychiatric complications of patients with this new disease. An estimation of expected prevalences of psychiatric disorders occurring in this group would help to redistribute mental health personnel between old and new tasks to serve the needs of both groups optimally. In The Lancet Psychiatry, Jonathan Rogers and colleagues1 report the results of their systematic review and meta-analysis of psychiatric sequelae in patients admitted to hospital with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and COVID-19 in the acute and post-illness stages of disease. The systematic review showed that most patients with SARS or MERS do not develop psychiatric disorders, but a significant minority exhibits confusion (36 [27·9%; 95% CI 20·5–36·0] of 129 patients), depressed mood (42 [32·6%; 24·7–40·9] of 129), anxiety (46 [35·7%; 27·6–44·2] of 129), im-paired memory (44 [34·1%; 26·2–42·5] of 129), and insomnia (54 [41·9%; 22·5–50·5] of 129). The meta-analysis showed that the point prevalence in the post-illness stage was 32·2% (95% CI 23·7–42·0) for post-traumatic stress disorder, 14·9% (12·1–18·2) for depression, and 14·8% (11·1–19·4) for anxiety.