ABSTRACT
Objective: Describe those with persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms seeking treatment for Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Method: Patients were referred for neuropsychological evaluation from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Post-COVID Treatment Program. Ninety-seven patients completed a comprehensive set of self-report questionnaires. Results: Patients were 49 years old (range: 18 to 74), had 15.49 years (SD = 2.43) of education, and identified as female (77%), married (51%), and White/Caucasian (73%) or Black/AA (25%). Reported annual income ranged from ≤ $20,000 (11%) to ≥ $100,000 (32%), with 75% currently employed. Confirmed positive test result for COVID-19 was reported in 88%, with 87% having the original virus and 13% the Delta variant, based on estimated dates of infection. Symptoms during the acute illness included: headache (76%), fever (51%), cough (57%), shortness of breath (56%), and loss of smell or taste (54%). Most of the participants were not hospitalized (76%) nor required oxygen therapy (78%). Persistent symptoms included: headache (55%), shortness of breath (53%), muscle and joint pain (53%), cough (17%), congestion (40%) and loss of smell or taste (25%). Of these participants, 87% reported they had not returned to their baseline health because of COVID-19 and most indicated impaired job performance following COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Those who sought treatment for persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms following a symptomatic course of COVID-19 were commonly middle aged, White, women, with at least a high school education. "Brain fog" secondary to PASC can result in reported persistent health and neuropsychiatric issues that can impact ability to work. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
Objective: Describe cognitive function in patients seeking treatment for Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Method: Ninety-two patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation secondary to reported “brain fog” following COVID-19 infection. Patients were referred from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Post-COVID Treatment Program. Patients were on average 49 years of age (range: 18-74), female (77%), and White/Caucasian (73%)/Black/AA (25%), with 15.49 years of education (SD = 2.43). Results: Overall, many patients demonstrated mild impairment on a brief global cognitive screener (MoCA;M = 24.78, SD = 3.46). On specific tasks of cognitive abilities, processing speed was variable;ranging from low average (Oral TMT Part A;M = 88.31, SD = 28.78) to below average (Oral SDMT;M = 72.80, SD = 20.37). Memory for immediate recall was low average (CVLT3-Brief Form (BF) Trials 1-4, M = 88.01, SD = 17.11), while delayed recall was average (CVLT3-BF, M = 94.17, SD = 19.11). Performances on measures of attention/working memory (WAIS-IV Digit Span;M = 96.75, SD = 12.54), executive functioning (Oral TMT Part B;M = 92.71, SD = 28.48), language (COWAT;M = 92.03, SD = 14.19) and visuospatial abilities (RBANS Figure Copy M = 104.04, SD = 16.08) were intact. Performance on embedded validity measures was also intact (RDS [95% valid];CVLT-3 FC [93% valid]). Conclusion: Overall, patients with “brain fog” following COVID-19 infection experience difficulties in specific domains of cognitive functioning. Further investigation of neuropsychological profiles associated with PASC is warranted to inform diagnosis, neurocognitive trajectory, and treatment planning.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe psychiatric symptoms in a sample of patients seeking treatment for “brain fog” due to Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Method: Patients were referred for a neuropsychological evaluation from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Post-COVID Treatment Program. Ninety-two patients completed a battery of self-report questionnaires to measure mood symptoms and behavior. Patients were on average 49 years of age (range: 18 to 74), female (77%), and White/Caucasian (73%)/Black/African American (25%), with 15.49 years of education (SD = 2.43). Results: On average, patients who sought treatment for PASC reported mild to moderate anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment [GAD-7];M = 9.83, SD = 6.07), moderate depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-8];M = 13.23, SD = 5.81), moderate stress levels (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS];M = 22.97, SD = 7.99). They also reported overall functional impairment in activities of daily living (Functional Assessment Questionnaire [FAQ];M = 9.57, SD = 8.29) and perceived cognitive impairment (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire [CFQ];M = 55.22, SD = 18.66). Additionally, patients endorsed several somatic symptoms (PHQ-15;M = 13.90, SD = 5.16), mild insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI];M = 14.80, SD = 6.85), and severe fatigue (Chalder’s Fatigue Scale [CFS];M = 25.53, SD = 5.72). Conclusion: Patients seeking treatment for “long-COVID” report a variety of clinically significant psychiatric symptoms, suggesting the need for incorporating behavioral, lifestyle, and psychological interventions in the treatment of this population.