Review of the effects of SARS-CoV2 infection and COVID-19 on common pediatric psychiatric illnesses

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is a novel coronavirus strain that causes pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome along with other morbidities, collectively known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease. There has been widespread discussion about the psychological impact of COVID-19 particularly on children and adolescents. There have been overarching negative effects with regards to decreased physical activity, more screen time, increasingly unhealthy diets, and irregularities in sleep/wake schedules^. This, coupled with disruptions in ongoing mental health treatment and associated support structures, has caused unprecedented declines in the emotional and psychosocial wellbeing of children and adolescents. This review aims to systematically review the literature to provide a general overview of the ways in which COVID-19 has affected common psychiatric illnesses in children and adolescents. The included articles in all subsections concluded that symptoms of these common childhood psychiatric disorders have generally been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This review indicates that quarantine and the consequent isolation have had multiple significant and consistent negative implications on the mental health of children and adolescents. Our study indicates that there should be increased vigilance among providers and families to mitigate the negative psychological effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has on children with common childhood psychiatric disorders.