Is SARS‐CoV‐2 seroconversion a risk factor for severe and acute psychiatric symptoms in children?. Issue 2 (8th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ayrolles, Anaël; Ellul, Pierre; Trebossen, Vincent; Houhou‐Fidouh, Nadira; Bonacorsi, Stephane; Descamps, Diane; Delorme, Richard
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychopharmacology reports. Volume 42:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 220
• Publication Date: 2022-03-08
• Subjects: children -- mental health -- pandemic -- psychiatric symptoms -- SARS‐CoV‐2; Neuropsychopharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.78
• DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2574-173X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Aims: Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, studies reported an increase in children's mental health issues and questioned the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 on psychiatric symptoms. Methods: We compared COVID seroconversion in children hospitalized with acute, severe psychiatric symptoms (n = 52) with the sex‐ and age‐matched control group (n = 52) living in the same low‐income geographic area and sampled during the same time period. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, we observed less seroconverted children with psychiatric conditions 9.61% (95% CI, 3.59‐21.80) vs 34.61% (95% CI, 22.33‐49.16; χ 2 = 14.7, P = 1.24E−4; OR = 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05‐0.64). Conclusion: This suggests a lower direct impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 compared with the impact of mitigation strategies on psychiatric symptom deterioration in children reported since early stages of the pandemic.