Background: Cognitive difficulties are a frequent complaint in long COVID and persist for more than a year post- infection. There is a lack of evidence-based data on effective intervention strategies. Non-pharmacological intervention programs that are used with other neurological populations have not yet been the subject of controlled trials. COVCOG is a multicentric, randomized trial comparing cognitive intervention and a cognitive-behavioural counselling.
Methods/design: Patients with long covid are selected and recruited at least three months post-infection. Patients are randomised in a 1:1 ratio into the cognitive (neuropsychological psychoeducation) and affective (emotion management with cognitive-behavioural counselling) intervention arms. The inclusion of 130 patients is planned. The cognitive intervention includes psycho-educational modules on fatigue and sleep, attention and working memory, executive functions and long-term memory. The affective intervention includes modules on emotion recognition and communication, uncertainty management and behavioral activation. The main objective is to reduce cognitive complaints 2 months after the intervention. A Follow-up is also planned at 8 months.
Discussion: Given the long-term effects of Covid on cognition and the negative effects of cognitive impairment on quality of life and social participation, it is important to determine whether low-dose, non-pharmacological interventions can be effective. The trial will determine which of the usual types of intervention is the most effective.
Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Number: NCT05167266 (21/12/ 2021).
Keywords: Cognitive behavior counseling; Cognitive impairment; Cognitive rehabilitation; Counseling; Long COVID; Post-acute COVID; Psychoeducation.
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