Inflammatory and mental health sequelae of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant negative consequences to mental health. Increased inflammatory factors and neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as cognitive impairment ("brain fog"), depression, and anxiety are associated with long COVID [post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), termed neuro-PASC]. The present study sought to examine the role of inflammatory factors as predictors of neuropsychiatric symptom severity in the context of COVID-19.

Cognition during active methamphetamine use versus remission.

Objective: To evaluate whether cognitive performance in adults with active methamphetamine use (MA-ACT) differs from cognitive performance in adults in remission from MA use disorder (MA-REM) and adults without a history of substance use disorder (CTLs).

Method: MA-ACT (n = 36), MA-REM (n = 48), and CTLs (n = 62) completed the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB).

Results: The MA-ACT group did not perform significantly worse than CTLs on any NAB Index.

Change in Learning and Memory Partially Mediates Effects of Compensatory Cognitive Training on Self-Reported Cognitive Symptoms.

Objective: To examine associations among compensatory cognitive training (CCT), objective cognitive functioning, and self-reported cognitive symptoms. We examined whether change in objective cognitive functioning associated with participation in CCT at 10-week follow-up mediates change in self-reported cognitive symptoms associated with CCT at 15-week follow-up.

Setting: Three VA outpatient mental health clinics.