Factors associated with psychiatric outcomes and coping in Long COVID

Abstract

The relationship between Long COVID (LC) and psychiatric outcomes, as well as factors associated with presence and absence of these, has to date been insufficiently studied. To explore this, we evaluated psychiatric symptoms and coping among LC and recovered COVID-19 patients who participated in a large international survey. Given increased rates of psychiatric illness with chronic medical conditions and known immune-inflammatory contributors to psychiatric disease, we hypothesized that a subset, but not entirety, of LC respondents may have comorbid psychopathology. A significant minority of both groups experienced suicidality, depression, and anxiety symptoms with these symptoms being more common in the LC group. LC respondents used more adaptive coping styles. Psychiatric outcomes in LC were associated with younger age, greater reductions in overall health, higher symptom severity, limitations to physical capability, lower income, financial hardship, psychiatric history, employment impact, male sex, men and nonbinary gender, and negative experiences with medical professionals, family, friends, partners, and employers.