Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Depression and Functional Outcomes in Patients with Post Covid-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts on health and wellbeing across the globe, and patients with COVID-19 are likely to suffer from major mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Therefore, cognitive behavioral therapy can help people change unreasonable beliefs concerning COVID-19-related psychological disorders and depression symptoms, thus improving theirquality of life. Purpose: To investigate the impact of cognitive behavioral therapy on depression and functional outcomes in post-COVID-19 patients. Subjects and Methods: Thirty-six post-COVID-19 patients of both sexes were selected and randomized into two equal groups. The study group (A) was given cognitive behavioral therapy and a selected physical therapy program including balance and endurance training and graduated active exercises. The control group (B) was given the same physiotherapy programme alone. The treatment was conducted for one hour, with three sessions per week for twelve successive weeks. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score was used to measure depression severity, while functional outcomes were evaluated by the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living. The measurements were performed before and after the 12-week intervention. Results: Within-group comparisons revealed that there was a statistically significant reduction in depression as well as improvement in functional outcomes between the pre- and posttreatment conditions in Group A (P = 0.001* and 0.001*, respectively). The control group (B) showed no statistically significant differences in depression severity, but functional outcomes improved (P = 0.43* and 0.02*, respectively). Between-group comparisons revealed a statistically significant reduction in depression and improvement in functional outcomes in the study group compared to the control group after treatment (P = 0.001* and 0.001*, respectively). Conclusion: Cognitive behavioral therapy is a beneficial therapeutic program for reducing depressive symptoms and improving functional outcomes in post-COVID syndrome patients.