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The Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Depression and Anxiety in the Long-COVID Population.

Rachel Welbel, Elizabeth Rutha, Jeffrey Ording, Douglas Wang, Jana Hirschtick

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews 2025 DOI: 10.17294/2330-0698.2128 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed
Population long-COVID patients
Intervention mindfulness-based practices
Duration 6-week intervention
Topics Anxiety Depression Meditation
Keywords Covid-19 Long-covid
Key points A six-week mindfulness-based group therapy did not significantly improve anxiety or depressive symptoms in long-COVID patients.

Abstract

Long-COVID is a complicated, post-viral syndrome involving multiple body systems and can present with neuropsychiatric symptoms. Little has been reported about the neuropsychiatric symptoms of long-COVID, and validated treatments do not yet exist. There is prior evidence that mindfulness-based strategies have been helpful for those with chronic illnesses; shown significant decreases in anxiety, stress, and depression; and enhanced quality of life. In this study, we report on the utility of a mindfulness-based intervention on levels of anxiety and depression in a long-COVID population. Our hospital system founded both a "Covid Recovery Clinic" (CRC) and a "Post-COVID Resilience Program" (PCRP). The PCRP consisted of a six-week virtual group therapy protocol that focused on mindfulness-based practices. Before and after the therapy intervention, participants answered questionnaires to capture depressive and anxiety symptoms. Pre- and post-questionnaire scores do not show a significant improvement in depressive or anxiety symptoms, although the study was limited by a small sample size. Further research is needed to investigate whether similar programs with a larger sample size can improve the mental health status of patients suffering from long-COVID.

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Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin. Healthy volunteers (7 female, 5 male) 2020 Open-label pilot study n = 12
Psilocybin-assisted group therapy for demoralized older long-term AIDS survivor men: An open-label safety and feasibility pilot study Older long-term AIDS survivor (OLTAS) self-identified gay men with moderate-to-severe... 2020 Open-label study

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