A-160 Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

• Published in: Archives of clinical neuropsychology 2022-08, Vol.37 (6), p.1314-1314
• Main Authors: Greenfield, Melissa J, Robinson, Jamie Hansel, Wheeler, Pariya Fazeli, Shah, Udit Vipul, Vance, David E, Agnihotri, Shruti P, Kennedy, Richard, Lokken, Kristine, Gerstenecker, Kristen Triebel, Gerstenecker, Adam, Martin, Roy C, Lazar, Ronald M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 1873-5843; 0887-6177; 1873-5843
• DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acac060.160

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.