Journal article
Clinical neuropsychological evaluation of patients referred from a post-COVID subspeciality clinic
Clinical neuropsychologist
07/26/2025
DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2536700
Abstract
Objective: To describe neuropsychological assessment findings of patients referred from a post-COVID subspecialty clinic. Methods: Clinical data were examined for 54 patients referred between March 2021 and May 2023. Assessment included objective cognitive performance, performance validity testing, self-report of cognitive symptoms (BRIEF-A), depressive and anxiety symptoms (BDI-II/BAI), and fatigue (PROMIS Fatigue-4a). Objective cognitive measures were grouped into domains and examined through (1) one sample t-tests comparing each domain score to the normative mean characterized using Cohen’s d, and (2) the frequency of impaired performance and elevated symptoms (±1.5 SD). Clinically elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue were examined. Results: Exclusion criteria resulted in a final sample of 46 (mean age= 48.5; 72% female). The mean cognitive domain scores of the sample all fell within 1 SD of expectations based on normative data. Examination of effect sizes using Cohen’s d suggested that verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning were significantly above the mean (small effect) while executive function, language, and processing speed were reduced (small effect). The Metacognition index of the BRIEF-A was elevated driven by Working Memory (80.5%). Elevated symptoms of depression (59.1%)/anxiety (75.0%) were frequent and not associated with objective cognitive scores. Elevated fatigue (56.5%) was associated with impaired processing speed performance. Conclusions: Individuals with long COVID reported significant difficulty with working memory capacity. Participants demonstrated a pattern of reduced performance in domains of executive function, language, and processing speed, although group means were within 1 SD of normative expectations. Clinically elevated fatigue was associated with reduced processing speed performance.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Clinical neuropsychological evaluation of patients referred from a post-COVID subspeciality clinic
- Creators
- Johanna Theeler - University of IowaAlejandro P. Comellas - University of IowaCarissa Gehl - University of IowaLauren Garvin - University of IowaAlpana Garg - University of IowaSean B. Fain - University of IowaKarin F. Hoth - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Clinical neuropsychologist
- DOI
- 10.1080/13854046.2025.2536700
- ISSN
- 1385-4046
- eISSN
- 1744-4144
- Publisher
- TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC; PHILADELPHIA
- Grant note
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health: T32HL166134 National Institutes of HealthU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural HealthNIHAmerican Lung Association (ALA)Polarean IncSiemens HealthineersGE HealthcareCenter for Disease Control and Prevention,Ann Theodore Foundation
Research reported in this publication was partially supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award number T32HL166134. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the national Institutes of Health. Alejandro Comellas has received grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and is an unpaid consultant for VIDA Diagnostics. Lauren Garvin has participated in research funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health. Sean B. Fain has received grants from NIH and the American Lung Association (ALA), received funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and serves as a scientific advisor and receives grant support from Polarean Inc, Siemens Healthineers and GE Healthcare for development of pulmonary CT and MRI. Karin Hoth has received grant funding from the nIH, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Ann Theodore Foundation and is an unpaid member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board for the COPD Foundation. Johanna Theeler, Carissa Gehl, and Alpana Garg have no relationships to disclose.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 07/26/2025
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Psychiatry; ICTS; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; General Internal Medicine; Health and Human Physiology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984927089702771
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