Associations of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha with neuropsychiatric symptoms of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).

Background: This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of clinically elevated interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and explored their associations with sociodemographic, medical, and neuropsychiatric symptoms of Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).

Method: Participants were assessed for acute and current COVID-19 symptomatology, measures of distress and neuropsychological testing approximately 6 months (mean 183 days, SD 137 days, range 30-598 days) after acute infection. Serum IL-6, CRP and TNF-α levels were drawn from 80 participants concurrently.

Primary versus secondary psychosis in a patient with congenital liver disease.

In this article we report the case of a man with congenital liver disease who later developed psychotic illness and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. We illustrate how decompensation in liver function was associated with the exacerbation of psychotic symptoms. We discuss differential diagnostic challenges, and the possible overlapping neuropathology in these two conditions that may converge on glutamate/N-methyl-D-aspartate dysfunction.

Frequency, Characteristics, and Correlates of Cognitive Complaints in a Cohort of Individuals with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19.

Background: Cognitive complaints are among the most frequent symptoms of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). This study aimed to investigate the frequency, characteristics, and clinical correlates of cognitive complaints (CC) in PASC, particularly in relation to objective neuropsychological (NP) performance.

Methods: Seventy-four participants underwent psychiatric, medical, and NP testing approximately 7 months after acute COVID-19.

Change in Neuropsychological Test Performance Seen in a Longitudinal Study of Patients With Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19: A 6-Month Follow-up Study.

Background: Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 may include physical, psychiatric, and neurocognitive symptoms. Few studies of cognitive symptoms have been longitudinal, with many following participants briefly after infection and relying on subjective complaints, screening instruments, or computerized testing. This group previously reported diminished neuropsychological (NP) test performance in over half of 60 individuals tested in-person 7 months post-COVID-19, particularly those seeking care for cognitive complaints.

Frequency and Characteristics of Depression and Its Association with Diminished Quality of Life in a Cohort of Individuals with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19.

Background: Approximately one-third of COVID-19 survivors will experience persistent symptoms, which may include neurological and psychiatric disturbances. Previous research has suggested that up to 45% of people develop clinically significant depressive symptoms post-COVID. This study sought to determine frequency, symptom profile, and clinical correlates of depression post-COVID.

Impact of COVID-19 on employment: sociodemographic, medical, psychiatric and neuropsychological correlates.

Introduction: Given the nature of the persistent physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms reported in the literature, among individuals after acute COVID illness; there is growing concern about the functional implications of the Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). We aim to evaluate associations of sociodemographic, medical, psychiatric and neuropsychological factors with employment status post COVID-19.

Methods: 59 participants were administered a neuropsychiatric assessment and queried about employment status and occupational difficulties months after quarantine.

Anxiety and posttraumatic stress in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: prevalence, characteristics, comorbidity, and clinical correlates.

Background: Anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms have been reported in association with acute and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).

Purpose: This study aimed to document the cross-sectional prevalence, characteristics and clinical correlates of anxiety and post-traumatic stress in a study of neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19.

Method: 75 participants recruited from a post-COVID-19 recovery program and the community were assessed for sociodemographic, medical, psychiatric, and neurocognitive symptoms and performance.

When Did the Empathy Die?: Examining the Correlation Between Length of Medical Training and Level of Empathy.

Purpose: Empathy is an important skill for physicians as it can lead to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction. This study assessed self-reported empathy by medical students across all four years of medical school and potential differences in empathy across students interested in different subspecialties.

Method: All medical students enrolled at New York Medical College in August 2020 were invited to participate in this study.

Screening for brain fog: Is the montreal cognitive assessment an effective screening tool for neurocognitive complaints post-COVID-19?

Background: Cognitive complaints are one of the most frequent symptoms reported in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) has been used to estimate prevalence of cognitive impairment in many studies of PASC, and is commonly employed as a screening test in this population, however, its validity has not been established.

Objective: To determine the utility of the MoCA to screen for cognitive impairment in PASC.

Examining the Long-Term Sequelae of SARS-CoV2 Infection in Patients Seen in an Outpatient Psychiatric Department.

Background: The acute phase of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is well known. However, there is now an increasing number of patients suffering from the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC Post COVID-19 condition occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms and that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis), including neuropsychiatric symptoms. The purpose of this report is to describe the sociodemographic, diagnostic and treatment characteristics of patients evaluated in an outpatient psychiatric setting for PASC.

Neuropsychological, Medical, and Psychiatric Findings After Recovery From Acute COVID-19: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Persistent cognitive, medical and psychiatric complaints have been extensively described after recovery from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objective: To describe neuropsychological, medical, psychiatric, and functional correlates of cognitive complaints experienced after recovery from acute COVID-19 infection.

Methods: Sixty participants underwent neuropsychological, psychiatric, medical, functional, and quality-of-life assessments 6-8 months after acute COVID-19.

Characteristics of Calls to a COVID-19 Mental Health Hotline in the First Wave of the Pandemic in New York.

This report describes the development, implementation and outcomes of a "COVID-19 Anxiety Hotline," designed to address the community's mental health crisis provoked by the coronavirus pandemic. The service was specifically designed using survey data regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its staff and community members. Callers had around-the-clock direct access to mental healthcare providers at no cost.

Psychiatric emergencies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the suburban New York City area.

Background: This report characterizes patients presenting for psychiatric emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic and describes COVID-19-related stressors.

Methods: Patients seen for emergency psychiatric evaluation during the height of the COVID-19 period (March 1-April 30, 2020; N = 201) were compared with those in the immediate Pre-COVID-19 period (January 1-February 28, 2020; N = 355), on sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, symptoms, and disposition. Patients tested positive for COVID-19 were compared with those that tested negative on the same outcomes.

Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Infectious Diseases: An Update.

Among the critically ill, infectious diseases can play a significant role in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disturbances. All critical care physicians are familiar with delirium as a secondary complication of systemic infection. This article focuses on key infectious diseases that commonly and directly produce neuropsychiatric symptoms, including direct infection of the central nervous system, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and AIDS.

Depression and fatigue in chronic hepatitis C patients with and without HIV co-infection.

Background: Depression and fatigue are common in chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Objective: We report clinical predictors of these conditions in patients seen in a university clinic.

Methods: A total of 167 CHC patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).

HIV+ caregivers and HIV+ non-caregivers: differences in sociodemographics, immune functioning, and quality-of-life.

Objective: To examine a cohort of HIV+ study participants, who are caregivers (CGs) and non-caregivers (NCGs), to determine whether differences exist across their sociodemographic backgrounds, immune functioning, and quality-of-life (i.e., symptom distress, physical, and mental quality-of-life).

Roles of the Akt/GSK-3 and Wnt signaling pathways in schizophrenia and antipsychotic drug action.

Dopamine D(2) receptor antagonism is a unifying property of all antipsychotic drugs in clinical use. Remarkably, the effector molecules through which these medications exert their actions remain poorly characterized. Increasing attention is being focused on Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and wingless (Wnt) signaling pathways, which have been associated with schizophrenia in a number of genetic and postmortem studies.