Exploring the relationship between subjective cognitive concerns, psychiatric symptom reporting, and objective neurocognitive test performance in a post-SARS-CoV-2 clinical sample.

Introduction: Approximately 6.9% to 8.9% of nongeriatric adults in the United States report persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2, one of which being persistent cognitive concerns. Across clinical populations, discrepancies have been identified between subjective cognitive concerns and performance on objective neurocognitive measures, such that subjective cognitive concerns often do not correlate with objective neurocognitive deficits.

Methods: The current study investigated the relationship between subjective cognitive concerns and objective neurocognitive test performance in a sample of 54 nongeriatric adults who underwent outpatient neuropsychological evaluation due to SARS-CoV-2 related persistent cognitive concerns. Multiple linear regressions analysed the relationship between reported cognitive concerns and objective neurocognitive test performance, as well as the relationship between depression and anxiety and subjective cognitive concerns.

Results: Subjective cognitive concerns did not significantly predict performance on objective neurocognitive test measures. Increased self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety predicted the presence of subjective cognitive concerns, with depressive symptom endorsement serving as the primary predictor.

Conclusions: Results suggest that internalising psychopathology may be an important marker of subjective cognitive concerns in this population. While the origins of internalising symptoms are unclear, the impact of these factors emphasises the need for comprehensive support in addressing long-term effects experienced by individuals following SARS-CoV-2 infection.