A study revealed the presence of post-SARS-CoV-2 infection neuropsychiatric symptoms in coronavirus long haulers, that persisted for more than 6 months in 7.6% of participants.  Hussam Y. Alghamdi et al. aimed to examine the neuropsychiatric signs detected less than one month to more than six months after COVID infection and to determine the influence of vaccination on them.

An online survey was held among COVID-19 infected patients. Screening of clinical signs and duration of neuropsychiatric complaints and their association to vaccination status, the severity of COVID-19 signs, age, and sex were done. Overall, 2218 patients encompassing 1358 women and 860 men (12-70 years of age) submitted their responses.

The loss of smell and taste, sleep disorders, tinnitus, depression, mood alteration, and cognitive dysfunction was experienced by the respondents with the rate of prevalence ranging from 18.9% (tinnitus) to 63.9% (loss of smell and taste). The persistence of symptoms for greater than six months was confirmed by 2.2-7.7% of respondents. The least common complaint was tinnitus, and only 2.2% of study subjects had tinnitus for more than six months.

Alteration in mood persisted for more than six months in 7.6% of the study subjects. Persistent symptoms were exhibited by more respondents who were administered 2 doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine compared to other groups. Female sex and the severity of the disease were recognized as the possible factors of the development and persistency of such symptoms. Hence, neuropsychiatric symptoms are commonly encountered in people diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.