A recent study illustrated that the neuropsychiatric consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection like cognitive deficits persist in the months following discharge from the hospital with only partial improvement at the six-month follow-up. Cognitive impairment, in association with depression, exerts a deleterious impact on an individual's quality of life. Researchers aimed to explore cognitive functioning six months following hospital discharge for SARS-CoV-2, the effect of depression, and the impact on the quality of life.

The study sample incorporated 312 coronavirus disease survivors (92 were assessed at one-month follow-up, 122 assessed at three-month follow-up, and 98 were assessed at six-month follow-up following hospital discharge); 165 inpatients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and 165 healthy comparison group.

The cognitive performances were adjusted for education, age, and gender. Notably, 79% of SARS-CoV-2 survivors at one month and 75% at three and six-month follow-up demonstrated cognitive impairment in at least 1 cognitive function. No profound differences in cognitive performances were noted between one, three, and six months follow-up.

In terms of psychomotor coordination and speed of information processing, the coronavirus-infected people performed worse than the healthy comparison group but better than MDD. There were no differences between coronavirus survivors and MDD for verbal fluency, and executive functions, that were lower than in the healthy comparison group.

The coronavirus survivors performed the same as the healthy comparison group in working memory and verbal memory. Depressive psychopathology was the most common factor affecting cognitive performance, that, in turn, interacts with cognitive functions in assessing the quality of life.

Thus, the management strategies must consider the persistent effects of SARS-CoV-2 on mood and cognition and new therapeutic approaches should be developed, particularly targeting cognitive disturbance.