Long-COVID syndrome: physical–mental interplay in the spotlight

Abstract

Patients suffering from Long-COVID syndrome experience a variety of different symptoms on a physical, but also on a psychological and social level. Previous psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety have been identified as separate risk factors for developing Long-COVID syndrome. This suggests a complex interplay of different physical and mental factors rather than a simple cause–effect relationship of a specific biological pathogenic process. The biopsychosocial model provides a foundation for understanding these interactions and integrating them into a broader perspective of the patient suffering from the disease instead of the individual symptoms, pointing towards the need of treatment options on a psychological as well as social level besides biological targets. This leads to our conclusion, that the biopsychosocial model should be the underlying philosophy of understanding, diagnosing and treating patients suffering from Long-COVID syndrome, moving away from the strictly biomedical understanding suspected by many patients, treaters and the media while also reducing the stigma still associated with the suggestion of a physical–mental interplay.

Cluster Analysis Identifies Long Covid Subtypes in Belgian Patients

“…). Anxiety and depression antecedents were present in 31% and 21% of patients in this cohort, underscoring the interplay between physical and mental aspects in the burden of long Covid, which aligns with the biopsychosocial model [18]. This study's sample predominantly represented the second wave of Covid-19 infection in Belgium (between April 9, 2020, and February 15, 2021), followed by the first wave (before April 9, 2020).…”

“…). Anxiety and depression antecedents were present in 31% and 21% of patients in this cohort, underscoring the interplay between physical and mental aspects in the burden of long Covid, which aligns with the biopsychosocial model [18].…”

A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a telemedicine self-management intervention for adults with long COVID: The COPE study protocol

“…Much of the existing long COVID research examines the biological effects of the virus and focuses on medical interventions. While medical intervention research is essential, recent literature has stressed the importance of considering the psychological correlates of long COVID, particularly because psychological distress is both a symptom of long COVID and a risk factor for long COVID (33)(34)(35). Similar to many other chronic health conditions, long COVID involves a constellation of biological/physical and psychological symptoms.…”

Stress Due to Inflation: Changes over Time, Correlates, and Coping Strategies among Working-Age Adults in the United States

“…The SDOH considered were education (less than high school, high school, some college, and college), lost employment income by the respondent or any household member (yes or no), poverty status (with four categories ranging from <100%, 100-<200%, 200-<400%, >=400%), food affordability (yes or no), health insurance coverage (yes or no), marital status (married, widowed, separated, divorced, and never married), and region (Northeast, South, Midwest, West). We also included whether individuals had experienced COVID (long COVID, acute COVID, no COVID) [22,23] and receipt of COVID vaccination (yes or no) [24], as explanatory variables because these may exacerbate stress due to inflation.…”