November 9, 2020

largest study so far on links between COVID and Psychiatric Diagnosis

Researchers at the University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry and NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre reported on the findings of the first large-scale evidence on whether COVID-19 survivors are at an increased risk of psychiatric disorders. The study, which was published in The Lancet Psychiatry on Monday evening used the TriNetX electronic health records of 69 million people in the USA including over 62,000 cases of COVID-19.

The study examined whether patients, in the 3 months following testing positive for COVID-19, were more likely to get a diagnosis of anxiety, depression, or insomnia, for the first time. The study also examined whether patients with existing mental health issues were more likely to get COVID.

Journalists dialled in to this briefing to hear the scientists discuss whether their findings should impact on the list of COVID risk factors.

Speakers included:

Prof Paul Harrison, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Oxford

Dr Max Taquet, NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry, University of Oxford

Prof John Geddes, Head of Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, and Director of NIHR Oxford Health BRC

This Briefing was accompanied by an SMC Roundup of Comments.