Psychological and medical outcomes of post-COVID-19 patients: A longitudinal study.

Authors

Agata Benfante, Marialaura Di Tella, Chiara Chiappero, Claudia Nocera, Georgia Zara, Carlo Albera, Paolo Solidoro, Lorys Castelli

Published in

Journal of psychosomatic research. Volume 210. Pages 112913. Jun 28, 2026. Epub Jun 28, 2026.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic affected different populations from a physical and psychological point of view. Psychological characteristics can have an impact on adjustment to illness conditions and increase the risk of persistence of physical symptoms and psychopathology. This prospective study examined possible changes in psychological and medical symptoms in people with post-COVID-19 condition by looking at which investigated variables could significantly predict anxiety and depressive symptoms at a long-term follow-up.
A baseline assessment (T0: 3-6 months after hospital discharge and virological recovery) and a second evaluation (T1: 9-16 months after virological recovery) were included. A total of 155 participants completed T0 evaluation by filling in questionnaires assessing resilience, difficulties in emotion regulation, fatigue, anxiety, depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), while 84 participants also completed T1 evaluation.
Participants reported lower scores in fatigue, depression and anxiety symptoms, and PTSS at T1 with respect to T0. PTSS and resilience evaluated at the baseline were found to be significant predictors of both anxiety and depressive symptoms measured at T1.
PTSS and resilience at baseline affected people with post-COVID-19 condition in relation to anxiety and depression in the medium term after virological recovery. Despite the high percentage of dropouts, which may have introduced attrition bias, the results highlight the importance of monitoring the psychological state of people with post-COVID-19 condition during clinical follow-up to identify those at higher risk of developing chronic anxiety and depressive symptoms at an early stage.

PMID:
42385306
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Jul 2026.

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