Assessment of Neurocognitive Functions, Olfaction, Taste, Mental, and Psychosocial Health in COVID-19 in Adults: Recommendations for Harmonization of Research and Implications for Clinical Practice

• Published in: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 642 - 660
• Main Authors: Cysique, Lucette A., Łojek, Emilia, Cheung, Theodore Ching-Kong, Cullen, Breda, Egbert, Anna Rita, Evans, Jonathan, Garolera, Maite, Gawron, Natalia, Gouse, Hetta, Hansen, Karolina, Holas, Paweł, Hyniewska, Sylwia, Malinowska, Ewa, Marcopulos, Bernice A., Merkley, Tricia L., Muñoz-Moreno, Jose A., Ramsden, Clare, Salas, Christian, Sikkes, Sietske A.M., Silva, Ana Rita, Zouhar, Imane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.07.2022
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Anxiety; Asymptomatic; Brain damage; Brain research; Clinical medicine; Cognition; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Critical Review; Delirium; Executive function; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Illnesses; Infections; Memory; Neuropsychology; Olfaction; Pandemics; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Taste; COVID-19; Assessment; Neuropsychological functions; Guidelines
• ISSN: 1355-6177; 1469-7661
• DOI: 10.1017/S1355617721000862

To propose a set of internationally harmonized procedures and methods for assessing neurocognitive functions, smell, taste, mental, and psychosocial health, and other factors in adults formally diagnosed with COVID-19 (confirmed as SARS-CoV-2 + WHO definition). We formed an international and cross-disciplinary NeuroCOVID Neuropsychology Taskforce in April 2020. Seven criteria were used to guide the selection of the recommendations' methods and procedures: (i) Relevance to all COVID-19 illness stages and longitudinal study design; (ii) Standard, cross-culturally valid or widely available instruments; (iii) Coverage of both direct and indirect causes of COVID-19-associated neurological and psychiatric symptoms; (iv) Control of factors specifically pertinent to COVID-19 that may affect neuropsychological performance; (v) Flexibility of administration (telehealth, computerized, remote/online, face to face); (vi) Harmonization for facilitating international research; (vii) Ease of translation to clinical practice. The three proposed levels of harmonization include a screening strategy with telehealth option, a medium-size computerized assessment with an online/remote option, and a comprehensive evaluation with flexible administration. The context in which each harmonization level might be used is described. Issues of assessment timelines, guidance for home/remote assessment to support data fidelity and telehealth considerations, cross-cultural adequacy, norms, and impairment definitions are also described. The proposed recommendations provide rationale and methodological guidance for neuropsychological research studies and clinical assessment in adults with COVID-19. We expect that the use of the recommendations will facilitate data harmonization and global research. Research implementing the recommendations will be crucial to determine their acceptability, usability, and validity.