Long Covid: The two sides of the coin

The psychological impact of Covid-19 lingers months after patients first catch the virus, writes Dr Gillian Moore Groarke.

Understanding the differences between patients who are experiencing post intensive care syndrome, post viral fatigue, permanent organ damage and long-term Covid is vital for helping patients fully recover. File Picture.

Since March, I have been working online with patients who have had a positive diagnosis for Covid-19. Many patients are still sick months after catching the virus as a result of post-viral symptoms. These symptoms are not just physical symptomatology we are seeing, but more psychological in nature.

Patients both young and old are describing severe anxiety, pandemic insomnia, depression, OCD, fatigue and brain fog. While most patients recover within two weeks, those with so called 'long Covid' have symptoms that persist beyond a three-week period and up to 6 months after their positive diagnosis.