BPS responds to new long Covid study

Responding to the new research paper Interventions for the management of long Covid Julia Faulconbridge, from the British Psychological Society's Division of Clinical Psychology said:

"The term "talking or psychological therapies" covers a wide range of interventions, including CBT, which can have a variety of aims. In the case of Long Covid they may be employed to help the person to cope with the impact of a serious and debilitating condition and help reduce distress. As examples, psychological interventions may include teaching strategies to manage and cope with cognitive fatigue; working with families, schools/employers in a systemic fashion to look at broader support and interaction patterns; helping a person come to terms with their reduced function to then allow themselves to rest; working with someone on the grief at their loss of function in a way that helps reduce the impact on their mood, and so on.  

"Psychologists often work very effectively with patients to improve their wellbeing, mental state, sense of self, health behaviours, and support them to access and use medical treatments. But they cannot "cure" the conditions on their own. As with all long-term health conditions, psychologically based talking therapies are best as part of a multi-disciplinary team approach and go hand in hand with medical treatment as appropriate."