Adams TN, Patel HJ, North CS. Long-term psychological outcomes among frontline healthcare workers following the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. World J Crit Care Med 2026; 15(2): 118885 [DOI: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i2.118885]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Traci N Adams, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, United States. traci.adams@utsouthwestern.edu
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Medicine, General & Internal
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Systematic Reviews
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Adams TN, Patel HJ, North CS. Long-term psychological outcomes among frontline healthcare workers following the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. World J Crit Care Med 2026; 15(2): 118885 [DOI: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i2.118885]
World J Crit Care Med. Jun 9, 2026; 15(2): 118885 Published online Jun 9, 2026. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i2.118885
Long-term psychological outcomes among frontline healthcare workers following the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review
Traci N Adams, Hetal J Patel, Carol S North
Traci N Adams, Hetal J Patel, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
Carol S North, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
Author contributions: Adams TN, Patel HJ, and North CS all contributed to analysis, writing, and editing the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Traci N Adams, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, United States. traci.adams@utsouthwestern.edu
Received: January 14, 2026 Revised: January 30, 2026 Accepted: March 31, 2026 Published online: June 9, 2026 Processing time: 127 Days and 18.1 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Studies of short-term mental health (MH) outcomes among frontline (FL) healthcare workers (HCWs) during the pandemic have been extensively published and have reached dramatically variable conclusions. Long-term MH outcomes in this population have received less study. A synthesis of available data on long-term MH outcomes among FL HCWs associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is needed to inform efforts for screening, mobilizing psychiatry resources, and preparing for the long-term MH consequences of future pandemics.
AIM
To determine the prevalence of MH sequelae of FL HCWs 1-3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
All studies published between March 1, 2023, and December 1, 2025, that reported on the post-pandemic MH of FL HCWs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as insomnia, stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression, were identified using PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Articles identified in the search were screened using the approaches recommended by the PRISMA 2020.
RESULTS
Of the 1819 articles, 1679 were excluded after review of the title and abstract, 140 were reviewed at length, and 19 were included. The available data (entirely based on symptom screening measures) suggest that FL HCWs are at risk for stress-related, anxiety, depressive, and sleep disorders at least 1 year after the end of the pandemic.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that enhanced access to psychiatry services is warranted in HCW populations exposed to pandemics.
Core Tip: Healthcare workers (HCW) are at risk for stress-related, anxiety, depressive, and sleep disorders at least 1 year after the end of the pandemic. These results suggest that enhanced access to psychiatry services is warranted in HCW populations exposed to pandemics.
