Mental health interventions following COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections: a systematic review of current recommendations and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Revista brasileira de psiquiatria 2021-11, Vol.43 (6), p.665-678
• Main Authors: Damiano, Rodolfo F, Di Santi, Talita, Beach, Scott, Pan, Pedro M, Lucchetti, Alessandra L, Smith, Felicia A, Forlenza, Orestes V, Fricchione, Gregory L, Miguel, Eurípedes C, Lucchetti, Giancarlo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Community mental health; coronavirus; COVID-19; Humans; management; Mental Health; pandemic; Pandemics; prevention; PSYCHIATRY; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Review; SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN: 1516-4446; 1809-452X; 1809-452X
• DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1582

To review the most common mental health strategies aimed at alleviating and/or preventing mental health problems in individuals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other coronavirus pandemics. We conducted a systematic review of the literature assessing three databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO). A meta-analysis was performed with data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). For non-RCT studies, a critical description of recommendations was performed. From a total of 2,825 articles, 125 were included. Of those, three RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that the interventions promoted better overall mental health outcomes as compared to control groups (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.87 [95%CI 0.33-1.41], p < 0.001, I2 = 69.2%), but did not specifically improve anxiety (SMD = 0.98 [95%CI -0.17 to 2.13], p > 0.05; I2 = 36.8%). Concerning the systematic review, we found a large body of scientific literature proposing recommendations involving psychological/psychiatric interventions, self-care, education, governmental programs, and the use of technology and media. We found a large body of expert recommendations that may help health practitioners, institutional and governmental leaders, and the general population cope with mental health issues during a pandemic or a crisis period. However, most articles had a low level of evidence, stressing the need for more studies with better design (especially RCTs) investigating potential mental health interventions during COVID-19. CRD42020190212.