Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID

Abstract Objective This study investigates persistent physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Long COVID, focusing on their severity and assessing risk/resilience factors, including conscientiousness and neuroticism. The study utilizes a mediation model to explore the potential role of psychologic...

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Main Authors: Asia Avinir, Aviv Kupershmidt, Dana Amsterdam, Guy Choshen, Jacob Nadav Ablin, Odelia Elkana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10308-0
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author Asia Avinir
Aviv Kupershmidt
Dana Amsterdam
Guy Choshen
Jacob Nadav Ablin
Odelia Elkana
author_facet Asia Avinir
Aviv Kupershmidt
Dana Amsterdam
Guy Choshen
Jacob Nadav Ablin
Odelia Elkana
author_sort Asia Avinir
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective This study investigates persistent physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Long COVID, focusing on their severity and assessing risk/resilience factors, including conscientiousness and neuroticism. The study utilizes a mediation model to explore the potential role of psychological distress in mediating its impact on cognitive decline. Methods In an online survey, 114 participants diagnosed with Long COVID completed assessments, including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) for psychological distress, Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) questionnaire for cognitive decline, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep disorders, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) with “BIG-5 inventory” subscales for risk/resilience factors. Results Findings showed high rates of depressive disorders (45.6%), generalized anxiety disorders (21%), sleep disturbances (76.3%), and reported cognitive changes (94.7%). Conscientiousness negatively correlated with psychological distress (p < .001, r = − .48) and cognitive decline (p < .001, r = − .36), while neuroticism positively correlated (p < .001, r = .62 and p < .001, r = .41, respectively). Social support negatively correlated with psychological distress (p < .001, r = − .52) and cognitive decline (p < .001, r = − .41). Psychological distress fully mediated personality traits and cognitive decline correlations, with significant full mediation for neuroticism [95% CI = (0.22, 0.48)] and conscientiousness [95% CI = (-0.33, -0.07)], controlling for age, gender, other chronic morbidity and social support. Conclusion The study underscores the significance of incorporating psychological interventions into treatment plans to alleviate distress symptoms associated with cognitive decline in conditions like Long COVID.
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spelling doaj-art-556c534046c5414eb2e2455f3ccd18e72024-12-22T12:17:30ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342024-12-0124111310.1186/s12879-024-10308-0Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVIDAsia Avinir0Aviv Kupershmidt1Dana Amsterdam2Guy Choshen3Jacob Nadav Ablin4Odelia Elkana5Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv YaffoDepartment of Internal Medicine H, Tel Aviv Medical CenterDepartment of Internal Medicine H, Tel Aviv Medical CenterDepartment of Internal Medicine B, Meir Medical CenterDepartment of Internal Medicine H, Tel Aviv Medical CenterBehavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv YaffoAbstract Objective This study investigates persistent physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Long COVID, focusing on their severity and assessing risk/resilience factors, including conscientiousness and neuroticism. The study utilizes a mediation model to explore the potential role of psychological distress in mediating its impact on cognitive decline. Methods In an online survey, 114 participants diagnosed with Long COVID completed assessments, including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) for psychological distress, Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) questionnaire for cognitive decline, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep disorders, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) with “BIG-5 inventory” subscales for risk/resilience factors. Results Findings showed high rates of depressive disorders (45.6%), generalized anxiety disorders (21%), sleep disturbances (76.3%), and reported cognitive changes (94.7%). Conscientiousness negatively correlated with psychological distress (p < .001, r = − .48) and cognitive decline (p < .001, r = − .36), while neuroticism positively correlated (p < .001, r = .62 and p < .001, r = .41, respectively). Social support negatively correlated with psychological distress (p < .001, r = − .52) and cognitive decline (p < .001, r = − .41). Psychological distress fully mediated personality traits and cognitive decline correlations, with significant full mediation for neuroticism [95% CI = (0.22, 0.48)] and conscientiousness [95% CI = (-0.33, -0.07)], controlling for age, gender, other chronic morbidity and social support. Conclusion The study underscores the significance of incorporating psychological interventions into treatment plans to alleviate distress symptoms associated with cognitive decline in conditions like Long COVID.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10308-0Long covidPersonality traitsConscientiousnessNeuroticismPsychological distress, subjective cognitive decline (SCD)
spellingShingle Asia Avinir
Aviv Kupershmidt
Dana Amsterdam
Guy Choshen
Jacob Nadav Ablin
Odelia Elkana
Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID
BMC Infectious Diseases
Long covid
Personality traits
Conscientiousness
Neuroticism
Psychological distress, subjective cognitive decline (SCD)
title Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID
title_full Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID
title_fullStr Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID
title_full_unstemmed Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID
title_short Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID
title_sort personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long covid
topic Long covid
Personality traits
Conscientiousness
Neuroticism
Psychological distress, subjective cognitive decline (SCD)
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10308-0
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