Effects of a brief behavioural cognitive e-therapy for emotional alterations, and inflammation in COVID-19 survivors

ABSTRACT

Background: The cellular inflammation generated by SARS-COV-2 has been linked with different psychological impairments to long-term. The Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can generate positive changes in these patients. Aim(s) To know the effects of a brief behavioural cognitive e-therapy on emotional symptoms, and cellular inflammation in COVID-19 survivors. Method(s) A quasi-experimental study was carried out. Participated two groups of survivors COVID-19 patients;experimental group (TG;4) and wait-list group (WLG;6). Both groups were evaluated using The General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the brief Davidson Trauma Scale. Cellular inflammation was evaluated by an assessment of salivary IL-6 in a three-phase paradigm baseline, stress, and recovery. The TG has received eight virtual mindfulness-based cognitive therapy sessions lasting two hours. The statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS version 26. Result(s) The average age was about 58+/-11.57 years (TG), and 44.33+/- 17.18 years (WLG). The TG showed a only a clinical differences in the psychological symptoms (anxiety;Mepre = 15.50, Mepost = 8, depression;Mepre =13, Mepost =6 and PTSD;Mepre = 10, Mepost = 5.50), and in the il-6 levels (Base line Mepre = 7.11 pg/mL, Mepost = 16 pg/mL, stress phase Mepre = 10.07 pg/mL, Mepost = 8.77 pg/mL, and recovery phase Me = 14.08 pg/mL, Me = 16.29 pg/mL). Conclusion(s) This type of therapy can helps to reduce the levels of the emotional alterations and generate a modulation of the il-6 levels. The effects of this type of treatment need to continue in research as a therapeutic option for the population that survives COVID-19.