Management of a patient with brain fog and depression

Murat Özdede, M.D.

Department of Internal Medicine,

Division of Internal Diseases,

Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine,

Ankara, Turkiye

Summary

Following recovery from COVID-19, an increasing number of patients have reported persisted symptoms. The term ‘long COVID’ has been recognized by national guidelines and identified as “post-COVID-19 syndrome”. Fatigue and cognitive impairment are among the most common and debilitating symptoms of the post-COVID-19 syndrome, named as “COVIDfog” or “brainfog”. Interdisciplinary management with professionals may be required and should not be delayed, especially in those with neurocognitive impairments.

This e-learning module addresses a case of 58-year-old male patient with post-COVID-19 syndrome, who developed depressive symptoms including passive suicidal thoughts, fatigue, and brain fog after recovery from COVID-19.

This e-learning module was developed by: EFIM Academy

Target audience

This e-learning module is suitable for internists, but is also built to serve internal medicine trainees and physicians in other disciplines, as well as health care professionals who have an interest in infectious diseases.

Additional information

• The e-learning module is designed to last approximately half an hour in total
• All authors and the e-learning module editors have declared that they have no conflicts of interest in relation to the material in this e-learning module
• The production of this e-learning module was funded entirely by the EFIM Academy. No external sponsorship was received
• The material used in this e-learning module was prepared in 2022.
• Unless otherwise stated, all display items are provided courtesy of the e-learning module authors
• Learners are invited to test their knowledge via 4 questions in the e-learning module
• The e-learning module has a pass mark of 75%. Those scoring less than the required pass mark are encouraged to revisit the e-learning module and retake the assessment