Attention deficits and depressive symptoms improve differentially after rehabilitation of post-COVID condition - A prospective cohort study

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research Vol. 175; p. 111540
• Main Authors: Kupferschmitt, Alexa, Jöbges, Michael, Randerath, Jennifer, Hinterberger, Thilo, Loew, Thomas H, Köllner, Volker
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-12-2023
• Subjects: Cognitive Dysfunction; COVID-19 - complications; Depression - psychology; Humans; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Prospective Studies; Post-COVID condition; depression; Inpatient rehabilitation; Treatment effects; Cognitive impairment
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111540

Depressive and cognitive symptoms like fatigue, loss of energy or sleep disorders characterise the post-COVID condition. Post-COVID psychosomatic rehabilitation should focus on both symptom groups. The current prospective cohort study addresses the change in these symptoms in the context of a psychosomatic rehabilitation.
N = 80 patients with post-COVID symptoms underwent psychological testing on admission and discharge: PHQ-9 questionnaire for depression, TAP - test battery for the attention test with the sub-tests working memory, sustained attention, divided attention and alertness. Sample characteristics, including health-related and work-related parameters, the general symptom load and the course of symptoms during the five weeks of rehabilitation were evaluated.
On admission, the PHQ-9 indicated the presence of depressive symptoms in post-COVID patients (PHQ-9 = 15.15 ± 5.11). Over the course of rehabilitation, the depressive symptoms decreased to a sub-clinical level (PHQ-9 = 8.80 ± 4.61), suggesting a strong effect of post-COVID inpatient rehabilitation (Cohen's d = 1.57). At the same time, post-COVID patients showed clinically relevant impairments in attention and working memory that persisted throughout the rehabilitation period despite multimodal post-COVID treatment.
Over the course of post-COVID rehabilitation, depressive symptoms appear to be significantly reduced. With regard to cognitive impairment, a comparable effect within the short period of 5 weeks is not evident. Our results suggest the need for specific treatment of persistent neuropsychological deficits following post-COVID rehabilitation.