Frontiers in Psychiatry (Aug 2023)

Prevalence and correlates of subjective cognitive impairment in Chinese psychiatric patients during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong

  • Vivian Shi Cheng Fung,
  • Jacob Man Tik Chan,
  • Eileena Mo Ching Chui,
  • Corine Sau Man Wong,
  • Joe Kwun Nam Chan,
  • Ryan Sai Ting Chu,
  • Yuen Kiu So,
  • Albert Kar Kin Chung,
  • Krystal Chi Kei Lee,
  • Calvin Pak Wing Cheng,
  • Chi Wing Law,
  • Wai Chi Chan,
  • Wing Chung Chang,
  • Wing Chung Chang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1216768
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionThe extent of cognitive impairment and its association with psychological distress among people with pre-existing mental illness during COVID-19 is understudied. This study aimed to investigate prevalence and correlates of subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) in Chinese psychiatric patients during fifth-wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong (HK).MethodsFour-hundred-eight psychiatric outpatients aged 18–64 years were assessed with questionnaires between 28 March and 8 April 2022, encompassing illness profile, psychopathological symptoms, coping-styles, resilience, and COVID-19 related factors. Participants were categorized into moderate-to-severe and intact/mild cognitive impairment (CI+ vs. CI-) groups based on severity of self-reported cognitive complaints. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to determine variables associated with CI+ status.ResultsOne-hundred-ninety-nine participants (48.8%) experienced CI+. A multivariate model on psychopathological symptoms found that depressive and post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms were related to CI+, while a multivariate model on coping, resilience and COVID-19 related factors revealed that avoidant coping, low resilience and more stressors were associated with CI+. Final combined model demonstrated the best model performance and showed that more severe depressive and PTSD-like symptoms, and adoption of avoidant coping were significantly associated with CI+.ConclusionAlmost half of the sample of psychiatric patients reported cognitive complaints during fifth-wave of COVID-19 in HK. Greater depressive and PTSD-like symptom severity, and maladaptive (avoidant) coping were found as correlates of SCI. COVID-19 related factors were not independently associated with SCI in psychiatric patients. Early detection with targeted psychological interventions may therefore reduce psychological distress, and hence self-perceived cognitive difficulties in this vulnerable population.

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