As the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, a more persistent and less visible burden has emerged: enduring psychological dysfunction among survivors. Increasingly recognized as part of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), these effects extend beyond physical recovery and continue to shape mental health outcomes on a global scale. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the psychological sequelae associated with COVID-19, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive impairment, and sleep disturbances. Drawing from current literature, it examines how COVID-19 infection contributes to lasting alterations in psychological functioning, even in the context of widespread vaccination and reduced physiological severity. The findings underscore a critical gap in clinical practice: the insufficient integration of COVID-19 history into mental health assessment and treatment frameworks. By situating these psychological effects within broader clinical and public health contexts, this work highlights the need for a more informed and systematic approach to identifying and managing long-term mental health consequences. This review positions post-COVID psychological impairment as an ongoing clinical and societal concern, calling for deeper recognition, targeted assessment, and sustained intervention in the evolving landscape of post-pandemic care.
Noel Daryl Pahimna (Wed,) studied this question.