Feasibility and outcomes of psychotherapeutic group therapy for patients with fatigue and emotional and cognitive disturbances secondary to COVID-19 disease.

About 10 % of all symptomatic COVID-19 patients suffer from long-lasting health complaints. Fatigue, cognitive and emotional disorders are the most frequent neuropsychiatric symptoms. Evidence-based therapies for these post-covid impairments are still lacking. Here, we examined the feasibility of a newly developed group-therapy program for patients with fatigue, emotional and cognitive disorders following COVID-19. 24 patients with ICD-10 diagnosis of F06.8 and U0.09 participated in the group therapy on average 13 month after their acute COVID-19 infection. Before and after the group therapy they underwent a comprehensive clinical and neuropsychological assessment. The group therapy was held online and consisted of 8 weekly sessions with psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational elements regarding fatigue and pacing, mindfulness, psychiatric disorders, cognition as well as physical activity after COVID-19. Participation in the group was high with an average of 7.25 of 8 visited sessions. Mean overall group satisfaction was 7.78 out of 10 points. Patients improved in their self-reported fatigue, daily living skills, depression and subjective cognitive abilities as well as in their objective performance in neuropsychological tests of attention during the study time. The newly developed group therapy program for patients with fatigue and emotional and cognitive disorders following an infection with SARS-CoV-2 was well accepted and evaluated and is feasible in an online setting. Copyright © 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Effects of increased wearing of mouth-to-nose protection on cognition and psyche of clinic staff

Background Due to current safety measures concerning the Corona pandemic, clinical staff in all sections are urged to wear surgical masks most of the time. Health care workers often perceive respiratory protection as uncomfortable and suspect a negative impact on their cognitive abilities. The current study investigated the impact of surgical masks on cognition and mental health as well as staff members' self-evaluations regarding potential impacts. Methods 29 clinical health care workers underwent 2 ± 90-minute sessions assessing their cognitive abilities and psychological health, one session wearing a surgical mask and one without. The assessments included neuropsychological diagnostics, questionnaires, recordings of partial pressure of oxygen (PO 2) and pulse as well as self-assessments regarding their cognitive abilities. Results Wearing surgical masks over 90-minutes had an impact neither on the subjects self-assessment, nor on the objective measures of cognitive functioning. However, self-assessments of cognitive abilities were influenced by apprehensions regarding the COVID-19 situation. Conclusions Neither subjective nor objective cognitive abilities are influenced by wearing surgical masks. Self-assessments were, however, predicted by perceptions of safety and worries. Hence, it is of paramount importance to acknowledge the individual fears of health care workers regarding the COVID-19 situation in a working environment. © 2021 Georg Thieme Verlag. All rights reserved.