Review

. 2022 Jul;28(6):642-660.

doi: 10.1017/S1355617721000862. Epub 2021 Aug 9.

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

Lucette A Cysique^#^{1

2

3}, Emilia Łojek^#⁴, Theodore Ching-Kong Cheung^#⁵, Breda Cullen^#⁶, Anna Rita Egbert^#⁷, Jonathan Evans^#⁶, Maite Garolera^#⁸, Natalia Gawron^#⁹, Hetta Gouse^#¹⁰, Karolina Hansen^#⁴, Paweł Holas^#⁴, Sylwia Hyniewska^#¹¹, Ewa Malinowska^#⁴, Bernice A Marcopulos^#^{12

13}, Tricia L Merkley^#¹⁴, Jose A Muñoz-Moreno^#¹⁵, Clare Ramsden^#¹⁶, Christian Salas^#¹⁷, Sietske A M Sikkes^#¹⁸, Ana Rita Silva^#¹⁹, Imane Zouhar^#²⁰; NeuroCOVID International Neuropsychology Taskforce

Affiliations

¹ Psychology Department, Faculty of Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² St. Vincent's Applied Medical Research Centre, Peter Duncan Neuroscience Unit, Darlinghurst, Australia.
³ MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Clinical Neuropsychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Toronto; Centre for Neuropsychology and Emotional Wellness, Markham, ON, Canada.
⁶ Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
⁷ Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁸ Neuropsychology Unit, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
⁹ Department of Adult Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Warsaw, Poland.
¹⁰ Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
¹¹ Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
¹² Department of Graduate Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, USA.
¹³ Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Brigham, USA.
¹⁵ Infectious Diseases Department, Lluita contra la SIDA Foundation, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
¹⁶ Tasmanian Health Service, Hobart, Australia.
¹⁷ Faculty of Psychology, Diego Portales University, Santiago, Chile.
¹⁸ Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers & VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
¹⁹ Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention - CINEICC, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
²⁰ Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 34365990
PMCID: PMC8825876
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617721000862

Review

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

Lucette A Cysique et al. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2022 Jul.

. 2022 Jul;28(6):642-660.

doi: 10.1017/S1355617721000862. Epub 2021 Aug 9.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Psychology Department, Faculty of Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² St. Vincent's Applied Medical Research Centre, Peter Duncan Neuroscience Unit, Darlinghurst, Australia.
³ MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Clinical Neuropsychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Toronto; Centre for Neuropsychology and Emotional Wellness, Markham, ON, Canada.
⁶ Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
⁷ Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁸ Neuropsychology Unit, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
⁹ Department of Adult Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Warsaw, Poland.
¹⁰ Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
¹¹ Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
¹² Department of Graduate Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, USA.
¹³ Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Brigham, USA.
¹⁵ Infectious Diseases Department, Lluita contra la SIDA Foundation, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
¹⁶ Tasmanian Health Service, Hobart, Australia.
¹⁷ Faculty of Psychology, Diego Portales University, Santiago, Chile.
¹⁸ Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers & VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
¹⁹ Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention - CINEICC, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
²⁰ Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 34365990
PMCID: PMC8825876
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617721000862

Abstract

Objective: 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).

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.

Keywords: Assessment; COVID-19; Guidelines; Neuropsychological functions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest disclosure

Dr. Cysique reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Łojek reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Mr. Theodore C.K. Cheung reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Cullen has no conflicts of interest to disclose

Dr Anna Rita Egbert reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr Jonathan Evans – has no conflict of interest to disclose

Dr Natalia Gawron reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Maite Garolera reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr Hetta Gouse reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Karolina Hansen reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr Paweł Holas reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr Sylwia Hyniewska reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr Ewa Malinowska reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Marcopulos reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Merkley reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Muñoz-Moreno reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Clare Ramsden reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr Christian Salas reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Sietske A.M. Sikkes reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Dr. Ana Rita Silva reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest.

Imane Zouhar reports no disclosure/no conflict of interest

Figures

**Figure 1.**
The Taskforce international representation ***Notes.*** taskforce includes 107 Members from the following countries: USA (52 Members), Australia (15), Poland (7), Canada (5), Netherlands (5), South Africa (4), UK (4), Spain (3), Belgium (2), Norway (2), Chile (1), Finland (1), Germany (1), Greece (1), Israel (1), Malaysia (1), Mexico (1), Zambia (1), Portugal (1) [numbers correct as of February April 27^th, 2021].

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

1. Abootalebi S, Aertker BM, Andalibi MS, Asdaghi N, Aykac O, Azarpazhooh MR, … Zand R (2020). Call to Action: SARS-CoV-2 and Cerebrovascular DisordErs (CASCADE). Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 104938. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104938 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Aghvinian M, Santoro AF, Gouse H, Joska JA, Linda T, Thomas KGF, Robbins RN (2020). Taking the test: A qualitative analysis of cultural and contextual factors impacting neuropsychological assessment of Xhosa-Speaking South Africans. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. doi:10.1093/arclin/acaa115 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Almeria M, Cejudo JC, Sotoca J, Deus J, Krupinski J (2020). Cognitive profile following COVID-19 infection: Clinical predictors leading to neuropsychological impairment. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, 9, 100163. doi:10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100163 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Altundag A, Tekeli H, Salihoglu M, Cayonu M, Yasar H, Kendirli MT, Saglam O (2015). Cross-culturally modified University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test for a Turkish population. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, 29(5), e138–141. doi:10.2500/ajra.2015.29.4212 - DOI - PubMed
1. American Psychological Association. (2020a). Guidelines for the practice of telepsychology. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/telepsychology

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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

Affiliations

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

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

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Grants and funding

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Full Text Sources

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