Metrics details. The — West African Ebola outbreak infected 28, people and caused 11, deaths by 11 May , across six countries. The outbreak has also resulted in the largest number of EVD survivors in history—over 17, Guinea was declared Ebola-free on 1 June Reports from the outbreak documented cases resulting in deaths and survivors.
EVD survivors face various neuropsychological and psycho-affective alterations that have not been fully identified yet. This study aims to document the depressive symptoms among adult survivors in Guinea. The study was combined with a clinical consultation by a psychiatrist at the Donka National Hospital in Conakry that ensured adapted care was provided when needed.
Severe depression was diagnosed between 1 and 19 months after ETC discharge. The various identified forms of depression responded favorably to conventional drug therapies and cognitive behavioral therapy. Long-term follow-up for EVD survivors will be necessary to understand the evolution of these pathologies. In the current post-epidemic context, these cases underscore the need to strengthen mental health diagnostic systems and treatment on a national scale.
Peer Review reports. Reports from the outbreak documented cases resulting in deaths and survivors [ 1 ]. Ebola virus disease EVD is a major traumatic experience, for both the individual and the collective, with many consequences that are still far from being fully known. In the medical field, various somatic manifestations have been reported among survivors, both immediately following the disease [ 2 , 3 ], and in the long term [ 4 ].
Findings of the teams who provided care to patients during this outbreak, backed up by knowledge gained during previous outbreaks [ 5 ], quickly led to a consensus on the need to include mental health in the care needed for EVD survivors [ 6 ]. Recommendations for follow-up and medical and social care for EVD survivors have been identified, including for mental health [ 7 ].
