Legacy of neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with past COVID-19 infection: A cause of concern

Although primarily affecting the respiratory system, growing attention is being paid to the neuropsychiatric consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Acute and sub-acute neuropsychiatric manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease and their mechanisms are better studied and understood currently than they had been when the pandemic began; however, many months or years will be necessary to fully comprehend how significant the consequences of such complications will be. In this editorial, we discuss the possible long-term sequelae of the COVID-19 pandemic, deriving our considerations on experiences drawn from past coronaviruses’ outbreaks, such as the SARS and the middle east respiratory syndrome, and from the knowledge of the mechanisms of neurotropism and invasiveness of SARS-CoV-2. Acknowledging the global spread of COVID-19 and the vast number of people affected, to date amounting to many millions, the matter of this pandemic’s neuropsychiatric legacy appears concerning. Public health monitoring strategies and early interventions seem to be necessary to manage the possible emergence of a severe wave of neuropsychiatric distress among the survivors.