Affective temperament modulates the relationship between physical and psychiatric symptoms during long-COVID: results from the Gemelli against COVID-19 post-acute care service.

Background: Affective temperaments represent the substrate of personality that can influence the expression of chronic infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and its sequelae. However, research conducted so far on this topic focused on narrow aspects of psychopathology.

Aim: To investigate the effect of affective temperaments on the relationship between physical and psychiatric symptoms in patients with long-COVID.

Methods: The sample consisted of 1513 patients who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and developed long-COVID. Participants performed a multidisciplinary assessment including psychiatric evaluation through the administration of rating scales. The psychiatric dimensions assessed included severity of depressive, anxiety, manic symptoms, anhedonia, hopelessness, suicidal risk, psychological distress, levels of well-being, resilience, emotion regulation, and levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Affective temperament was assessed through the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). We used TEMPS-A subscales as moderators and sociodemographic and COVID-19/long-COVID-related clinical characteristics as predictors. Psychiatric rating scales total scores were outcome variables.

Results: Cyclothymic, irritable, and depressive temperaments strengthened the relationship between number of long-COVID symptoms, levels of anhedonia and poor psychological well-being. Cyclothymic and irritable temperaments weakened the relationship between number of long-COVID symptoms and history of intensive care unit admission and PTSD severity. Depressive temperament strengthened the latter relationship.

Limitation: The clinical variables included in the analyses do not represent the entire range of psychopathology.

Conclusions: Depressive temperament enhanced the relationship between physical and psychiatric symptoms in patients with long-COVID, whereas the effects of cyclothymic and irritable temperaments may depend on the psychiatric dimension assessed.