ArticleBrain and behavior2024
High Somatization Rates, Frequent Spontaneous Recovery, and a Lack of Organic Biomarkers in Post-Covid-19 Condition.
Article in Brain and behavior, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Voluntary wheel running behavior is reduced by SARS-CoV-2 S1 administration and mitigates hypothalamic neuroinflammatory processes.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2026Article
- Immunoadsorption Versus Sham Treatment for Post-COVID Syndrome: A Randomised Sham-Controlled Crossover Trial.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2026Article
- A randomised, placebo-controlled, triple-blind clinical trial to investigate the efficacy ofFrontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Article
- The effect of COVID-19 and socioeconomic inequalities on emergency department accesses for psychiatric conditions.PloS one · 2026Article
- A tablet-based intervention study to alleviate cognitive and psychological symptoms in patients with post-Covid-19 condition.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Internal medicine at the crossroads of long COVID diagnosis and management.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Review
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionMany patients report neuropsychiatric symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data on prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) vary due to the lack of specific diagnostic criteria, the report of unspecific symptoms, and reliable biomarkers.
methodsPCC patients seen in a neurological outpatient department were followed for up to 18 months. Neurological examination, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, Epstein-Barr virus antibodies, and cortisol levels as possible biomarkers, questionnaires to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms and somatization (Patient Health Questionnaires D [PHQ-D]), cognition deficits (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]), sleep disorders (ISS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]), and fatigue (FSS) were included.
resultsA total of 175 consecutive patients (78% females, median age 42 years) were seen between May 2021 and February 2023. Fatigue, subjective stress intolerance, and subjective cognitive deficits were the most common symptoms. Specific scores were positive for fatigue, insomnia, and sleepiness and were present in 95%, 62.1%, and 44.0%, respectively. Cognitive deficits were found in 2.3%. Signs of somatization were identified in 61%, who also had an average of two symptoms more than patients without somatization. Overall, 28% had a psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. At the second visit (n = 92), fatigue (67.3%) and insomnia (45.5%) had decreased. At visit three (n = 43), symptom load had decreased in 76.8%; overall, 51.2% of patients were symptom-free. Biomarker testing did not confirm an anti-EBV response. SARS-CoV-2-specific immune reactions increased over time, and cortisol levels were within the physiological range.
conclusionDespite high initial symptom load, 76.8% improved over time. The prevalence of somatization and psychiatric disorders was high. Our data do not confirm the role of previously suggested biomarkers in PCC patients.
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