Current concept of cerebral dysfunction in COVID-19 patients

There have been very few studies analyzing neuropsychiatric aspects of COVID-19 and the impact of somatic aspects of infection on the development of transient or persistent deficits in higher cerebral functions. This is primarily due to the small number of specialists in neuropsychiatry who work with COVID-19 patients and also because the healthcare system is primarily focused on the diagnosis and treatment of the somatic pathology. In this review, we analyzed the studies assessing the neuropsychiatric aspects of COVID-19 with a focus on possible somatic predictors of their development. We discuss neuropsychiatric manifestations of cerebral dysfunction in patients with new coronavirus infection and provide a description of the dynamics of symptom development and regression. We also cover the issues related to stress resistance of healthcare professionals working with COVID-19 patients. Particular attention is paid to the treatment of COVID-associated cerebral dysfunction and therapeutic options of neuroprotection. Key words: new coronavirus infection, COVID-19, delirium, postcovid neuropsychiatric syndrome, cognitive deficit, suicidal tendencies, encephalopathy