Abstract

Based on research from previous pandemics, studies of critical care survivors, and emerging COVID19 data, we estimate that up to 30% of survivors of severe COVID will develop PTSD.

PTSD is frequently undetected across primary and secondary care settings and the psychological needs of survivors may be overshadowed by a focus on physical recovery.

Delayed PTSD diagnosis is associated with poor outcomes.

There is a clear case for survivors of severe COVID to be systematically screened for PTSD, and those that develop PTSD should receive timely access to evidencebased treatment for PTSD and other mental health problems by multidisciplinary teams.

Citations

Talya Greene, Sharif El-Leithy, Jo Billings, Idit Albert, Jennifer Birch, Mari Campbell, Kim Ehntholt, Lorna Fortune, Nicola Gilbert, Nick Grey, Laurinne Hana, Helen Kennerley, Deborah Lee, Sarah Lunn, Dominic Murphy, Mary Robertson, Dorothy Wade, Chris R. Brewin & Michael A. P. Bloomfield (2022) Anticipating PTSD in severe COVID survivors: the case for screen-and-treat, European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13:1, 1959707

Sponsorship: Supported by the NIHR

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1959707

URI: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/orka/title/anticipating-ptsd-in-severe-covid-survivors-the-case-for-screen-and-treat/