Long Covid Mental Health

A large new study of COVID‑19 and Americans’ mental health finds a persistent crisis with many unanswered questions.

In this photo illustration, a health worker wearing gloves holding a test sample tubes labeled 'COVID-19 Omicron variant' in front of a display. More than 150 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in India.

As the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study sheds light on the experiences of Black adults living...

Definitions of long COVID and care models are evolving, but considerable variability is seen in these models.

Background Previous studies have found adverse effects on mental health following infection with SARS-CoV-2. This study investigates whether mental health is also impaired in unknowingly infected individuals. In addition, the relevance of the severity of the infection and the time since the onset of infection were analyzed. Methods Data from the population-representative Gutenberg COVID-19 Study (GCS) were used (N = 2,267). SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined multimodally by self-report, throat swabs (acute infections) and antibody measurements (previous infections). Participants completed self-report questionnaires on mental health. Results Neither unknowing nor knowing SARS-CoV-2 infection had an impact on mental health. However, symptom severity and previous depression or anxiety predicted higher levels of depressiveness, anxiety and somatic complaints. Our results confirm findings suggesting that the severity of the initial infection and previous mental illness, but not knowledge of the infection, are the most important predictors of negative mental health outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusion The results suggest that mental health care should focus on individuals who suffer from a severe acute COVID-19 infection or have a history of mental illness.

Patients with schizophrenia and COVID-19 both present dysregulated energy metabolism, explaining the high COVID-19 rates among those with schizophrenia.

Scientific Reports - Exploring social determinants of health and their impacts on self-reported quality of life in long COVID-19 patients

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and physical and mental health rehabilitation can help improve symptoms of long COVID.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and the role of vaccination in the onset of neuropsychiatric conditions, e…

Talking therapies “probably improve symptoms of long Covid”, according to a new study.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic linger as patients continue to battle cosmetic insecurities associated with working from home, according to an entry in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Ethics Journal Club.In answering a dermatologist’s question about navigating a patient’s request for cosmetic procedures because of looking “ugly on Zoom,” Shari

The emergence of long COVID as a significant health issue has prompted the medical community to explore its varied and complex effects on individuals who have survived…

The Journal of Science and the New England Journal of Medicine say long-COVID has led to not only brain fog, but also headaches, seizure disorders, strokes, sleep problems, and tingling and paralysis of the nerves.

The following is a summary of “Protective role of vaccination on the development of long COVID: data from a large, multicenter, prospective cohort study,” published in the November 2024 issue of Infectious Disease by Gennaro et al. Long COVID, a diverse syndrome impacting millions globally, presents an urgent public health challenge, with limited data on

Background Global mental health has been threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, both directly through long-lasting neuropsychiatric disorders that occur during primary infection in affected individuals and indirectly through stressful and disruptive societal changes. Thus, this study determined the pooled prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors among adults after COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using primary published and unpublished studies that were retrieved from various databases. Studies conducted on adults, published in English, and conducted in Ethiopia were included in this review. A standardized data extraction format developed from Excel was used to collect the data. A random effect meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled effect size of all included studies at a 95% confidence interval. The heterogeneity was evaluated by Cochran Q test and the I-squared. Funnel plot and egger tests were used to determine publication bias. Results A total of 20 studies were eligible for this systematic review. The pooled prevalence of common mental disorders among adults was 40.44% (95%CI: 31.86–49.02%). Female gender (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.33–2.44), unemployed (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.12–2.98), poor social support (AOR = 3.12, 95% CI: 2.08–4.17), substance use (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.58–3.41), history of mental illness (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.01–2.44), family history of mental illness (AOR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.54–3.41), and chronic medical illness (AOR = 1.6, 95%CI:1.02–2.17) were risk factors for common mental disorders. Conclusion In this study, more than one-third of adults were affected by common mental disorders after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This indicated that, in order to reduce the prevalence of common mental disorders, enhancing the provision of mental health services should be improved after the COVID-19 pandemic. Screening for common mental disorders should be given, especially to females, unemployed people, substance users, chronic medically ill people, those with a history of mental illnesses, and those with a family history of mental illness. Strengthening social support during the COVID-19 pandemic is also important. PROSPERO protocol registration The registration ID for this systematic review is CRD42024496826.

Background Recent research has shown significant individual differences in COVID-19 psychosomatic symptoms. However, there has been a lack of studies investigating the influence of physical and psychological factors on these symptoms and their underlying mechanisms. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the predictive role of self-compassion and social support on COVID-19 psychosomatic symptoms, as well as the potential mediating role of sleep quality. Methods Data were collected from 636 participants infected with COVID-19 during the early post-pandemic reopening phase in China. The measurement tools used in the current study included the Self-Compassion Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, Self-Rating Scale of Sleep, and a COVID-19 Psychosomatic Symptom Diary. Results A structural equation model revealed that: (1) social support directly predicts COVID-19 psychosomatic symptoms; (2) sleep quality fully mediates the relationship between self-compassion and COVID-19 psychosomatic symptoms; and (3) sleep quality partially mediates the relationship between social support and COVID-19 psychosomatic symptoms. Conclusions These findings not only confirm previous research but also provide new insights into the intricate interplay between psychological and physical factors and their influence on COVID-19 psychosomatic symptoms. The implications of these findings may inform the development of targeted rehabilitation programs in the post-pandemic era of the “new normal”. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Some of the lowest-paid essential workers during the pandemic also suffered the most trauma. Nursing aides have had trouble getting healthcare officials to pay attention to their plight.

Masking, clean air, and vaccinations are essential in combating COVID-19 and preventing long-term impacts, as evidence mounts of long COVID's significant economic, cognitive, and behavioral effects.

A study is being run by an NHS employee and postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh into the psychological and social factors influencing wellbeing and distress in people with Long Covid. The study aims to explore how people cope with challenging Long Covid symptoms and how this impacts mental health. This could help healthcare … Continued

Since it first appeared, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a significant and lasting negative impact on the health

In the first election after the pandemic, Americans are heading to the polls full of emotions.

The effects of viral infections might be apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoform-dependent. In humans, there are three major apoE isoforms, E2, E3, and E4. E4 is ass...

Dr Aspa Paltoglou hears from physician Dr David Joffe about what’s needed from our discipline; from Janina Bradshaw about what Psychotherapists can do; and from occupational therapist Kirsty Stanley.

Scientific Reports - Stroop task and practice effects demonstrate cognitive dysfunction in long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome

Find out why the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has been told that nurses who developed long Covid during pandemic had been 'let down'.

Nurses who contracted long Covid during the pandemic and subsequently quit their jobs have been let down and made to feel ‘disposable.'

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, brought immense disruption to individuals and societies worldwide, including children and adolescents. Alongside its immediate physical health impacts, the pandemic had a profound effect on mental health.

Long COVID is common among veterans in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry; however, the risk is not augmented by deployment exposures.