Published online Jul 19, 2022. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i7.874
Peer-review started: January 20, 2022
First decision: April 18, 2022
Revised: May 3, 2022
Accepted: June 16, 2022
Article in press: June 16, 2022
Published online: July 19, 2022
Processing time: 179 Days and 12.6 Hours
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been linked to an increased prevalence of mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress in people worldwide due to several factors, including fear of infection; social isolation; difficulty in adapting to new routines; lack of coping methods; high exposure to social media, misinformation, and fake reports; economic impact of the measures implemented to slow the contagion and concerns regarding the disease pathogenesis. COVID-19 patients have elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and other inflammation-related factors. Furthermore, invasion of the central nervous system by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may potentially contribute to neuroinflammatory alterations in infected individuals. Neuroinflammation, a consequence of psychological stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, may also play a role in the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the general population. Considering that neuroinflammation plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of depression and anxiety, this study investigated the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on mental health and focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the neuroinflammatory pathways.
Core Tip: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has impacted the mental health of the population worldwide. This review summarizes the evidence of the role of neuroinflammation, either as a result of chronic stress caused by the pandemic or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, in the development of anxiety and depressive disorders.