Expanding our understanding of post COVID-19 condition web series: Neurology and Mental Health

This session brought together clinical experts from around the world to discuss the latest data on Post COVID-19 condition.  

Ms Dévora Kestel Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Use at WHO in Geneva, Switzerland opened the webinar welcoming the speakers and participants. She outlined the establishment of the WHO NeuroCOVID forum which has contributed to the publication of a Neurology and COVID-19 scientific brief, the approval of the intersectoral action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders by the WHO’s Executive Board in January 2022 and WHO Scientific Brief on COVID and mental health.   

Dr Nasser Loza President Elect, World Federation of Mental Health, Cairo, Egypt discussed his own experience of COVID-19 infection in an interview with Dr Mark van Ommeren, Unit Head of the Mental Health Unit at WHO. Dr Loza described the stigma he faced during and after his infection and explained the mental health impact it had on him in his recovery.  

Dr Alla Guekht, the Director of the Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry and Professor of Neurology at the Russian National Research Medical University, Russian Federation opened the section on Neurology and Post COVID-19 condition with an introduction to the neurological manifestations in post COVID-19 condition. The presentation reviewed data from several studies outlining the different clinical neurological presentations of Post COVID-19 condition including fatigue, respiratory problems, cognition difficulties and disrupted sleep. She then described the Post-COVID program in Moscow Research and Clinical Centre for Neuropsychiatry and assessment of their patient population.  

Dr Tracy Vannorsdall, a clinical neuropsychologist and Associate Professor within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine followed with her talk. A key member of the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team, one of the earliest dedicated multidisciplinary COVID-19 survivorship clinics in the United States, her presentation discussed the neuropsychological sequelae, clinical course, and treatment needs associated with COVID19 infection with a focus on cognition, dysautonomia, dysphagia and dysphonia including management and rehabilitative strategies.  

Dr Kameshwar Prasad,  Professor of Neurology; Director & Chief Executive Officer at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, India gave an overview of the pathogenesis and clinical presentations of the cognitive impairments associated with SARS-CoV 2 infection. These included genetics, neural inflammation, vasculopathy, neuronal injury and direct viral invasion.  

Dr José Luis Ayuso-Mateos, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry; Director for the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health Services, University of Madrid, Spain presented an overview of clinical aspects of mental health services to address the mental health symptoms of those experiencing post COVID-19 condition.  

Dr Marit Sijbrandij, Professor in Clinical Psychology and Co-Director of WHO Collaborative Centre of Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands presented an overview of research evidence from a WHO Scientific Brief on COVID-19 and Mental Health, including data regarding the mental health symptoms of people experiencing post COVID-19 condition. 

Dr Timothy Nicholson Clinical Senior Lecturer, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, United Kingdom opened the final section on Research tools for post COVID-19 condition with a discussion on the Post COVID-19 condition core outcome set with a focus on mental health and neurological manifestations. Stage 1 of the PC-COS study covered ‘What to measure’, outcomes included and next steps in the process.  

Dr Silvia Bertagnolio, Head of the Control and Response strategies unit in the Antimicrobial Resistance Unit at the World Health Organisation presented on the Global Clinical Data Platform. She presented the concept behind the clinical data platform and discussed the post COVID-19 CRF which allows networks and research groups to contribute de-identified patient data.  

Dr Gabriel de Erausquin Professor of Neurology and Radiological Science from the  Joe R and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Heath San Antonio, Texas gave an overview of the research currently being conducted through his Global consortium studies on the  neuropsychiatric sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

The webinar was concluded by Dr Tarun Dua Lead of the WHO Brain Health Unit in Geneva, Switzerland summarizing the key points of the webinar and Dr Maria Van Kerkhove who is the technical lead for the COVID-19 response who provided an overview of post COVID-19 condition.