Open AccessIs SARS‐CoV‐2 seroconversion a risk factor for severe and acute psychiatric symptoms in children?
Author(s) -
Ayrolles Anaël,
Ellul Pierre,
Trebossen Vincent,
HouhouFidouh Nadira,
Bonacorsi Stephane,
Descamps Diane,
Delorme Richard
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
neuropsychopharmacology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.661
H-Index - 13
ISSN - 2574-173X
DOI - 10.1002/npr2.12236
Subject(s) - seroconversion , medicine , pandemic , psychiatry , covid-19 , risk factor , mental health , pediatrics , disease , virology , virus , infectious disease (medical specialty)
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.