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. 2022 Jan-Apr;22(1):100253.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2021.100253. Epub 2021 May 24.

COVID-19: Impact of diagnosis threat and suggestibility on subjective cognitive complaints

Daniella Winter  1 , Yoram Braw  1
Affiliations

COVID-19: Impact of diagnosis threat and suggestibility on subjective cognitive complaints

Daniella Winter et al. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2022 Jan-Apr.

Abstract
in English, French

A subset of recovered COVID-19 patients report persistent neurological symptoms. These include non-specific symptoms (e.g., headaches and fatigue) which were found to be affected by psychological processes in other disorders (e.g., post-concussion syndrome, PCS, after mild traumatic brain injury). The current study assessed the impact of diagnosis threat (i.e., information regarding the long-term neurological impact of COVID-19) and suggestibility on endorsed symptoms of both recovered patients and healthy controls. Method: Recovered patients (n = 90) and healthy controls (n = 210) described their cognitive functioning after being randomly assigned to: (a) Experimental group: These participants read an article that explored long-term neurological symptoms among COVID-19 survivors. (b) Control group: These participants read an article providing general information regarding the disease. Results: Recovered patients, but not healthy controls, endorsed more symptoms in the experimental condition compared to the control condition. Moreover, suggestibility was correlated with endorsement of symptoms. Conclusions: Post COVID-19 neurological symptoms may, at least partially, be affected by non-neurological factors such as diagnosis threat. Information regarding long-term effects of COVID-19 may skew reported symptoms with highly suggestible individuals particularly susceptible to these effects. Further research, however, is needed to validate and elaborate upon these initial findings.

Pacientes con COVID-19 recuperados informan síntomas neurológicos persistentes (e.g., dolor de cabeza y fatiga) que se vieron afectados por procesos psicológicos en otros trastornos (e.g., Síndrome postconmoción cerebral después de una lesión cerebral traumática leve). Se evaluó el impacto de la amenaza del diagnóstico (i.e., información sobre el impacto neurológico a largo plazo del COVID-19) y la sugestión sobre los síntomas respaldados tanto de pacientes recuperados como de controles sanos. Método: Pacientes recuperados (n = 90) y controles sanos (n = 210) informaron sobre su funcionamiento cognitivo después de haber sido asignados al azar a: (a) condición que exploró los síntomas neurológicos a largo plazo entre los sobrevivientes de COVID-19; (b) condición de control que proporciona información general sobre la enfermedad. Resultados: Pacientes recuperados, pero no los controles sanos, aprobaron más síntomas en la condición experimental que en la control. La sugestión se asoció con una mayor aprobación de síntomas. Conclusiones: Los síntomas neurológicos posteriores al COVID-19 pueden verse afectados, al menos parcialmente, por factores no neurológicos como la amenaza del diagnóstico. La información sobre los efectos a largo plazo de COVID-19 puede sesgar los síntomas informados en individuos altamente sugestionables. Se necesitan más investigaciones para validar y desarrollar estos hallazgos iniciales.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cognitive complaints; Diagnosis threat; Experiment; Post COVID-19 Neurological Syndrome (PCNS).

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Figures

Fig 1
Figure 1
Consort flow diagram.
Fig 2
Figure 2
Group differences in CFQ total score Note. * p < .05; ** p < .01 CFQ = Cognitive failures questionnaire. Bars represent standard error of the mean.
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Suggestibility differences in CFQ total score for diagnosis threat condition (n = 155) and control condition (n = 144) Note. CFQ = Cognitive failures questionnaire. Bars represent standard error of the mean.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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