[Do dysfunctional patterns of avoidance and endurance play a role in the maintenance of post-COVID fatigue? - A pilot-study].

Abstract

Following a SARS-CoV-2 infection, around 10% of patients develop post-COVID symptoms, with fatigue being one of the most common symptoms. This leads to a considerable reduction in quality of life and a high level of absenteeism from work. In the chronification of pain, dysfunctional patterns in the sense of the avoidance/endurance concept are relevant and clinical experience with PCS patients shows that these could also play a role here.The explorative observational study tests the assumption that maladaptive fear-avoidance reactions or endurance reactions have a significant influence on the maintenance of post-COVID fatigue symptoms.In N=97 patients with post-COVID fatigue symptoms from a rehabilitation facility, fatigue (FSMC), avoidance-endurance behaviour (AEQ) and psychological and work-related variables were recorded using self-report questionnaires, and a 6-minute walking test was also carried out.The following distribution pattern emerged: 2/3 distress perseveration, 1/3 avoidance and no adequate copers. The anxiety-avoidance response pattern was able to explain significant variance in the expression of fatigue (F (3, 88)=17,072, p<0,001; R²=0,368). The avoidance of physical activity is associated with an increased number of sick days.The results support the assumption that maladaptive response patterns contribute to the chronification of post-COVID symptoms. In view of this chronified sample, this speaks in favour of the importance of these constructs. Screening could be used to filter these out in advance and implement more targeted, individually tailored therapies.