The neurological subtype of long COVID (PASC) is characterized by symptoms of cognitive impairment that develop within three months after the acute phase, persist for at least two months, and cannot be explained by another diagnosis. Based on subjective reports or neuropsychological testing, studies have demonstrated impairments across various cognitive domains. In the present study, we examined how individuals reporting symptoms of PASC perceive and describe their neurological symptoms and cognitive changes, as well as the impact these symptoms have on their lives and psychological well-being. Drawing on the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework, we developed a semi-structured interview covering several cognitive domains—attention, perception, declarative and working memory, language, and cognitive control—and their subdomains. Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 15 working-age adults reporting PASC symptoms. Their in-depth and detailed descriptions of cognitive difficulties indicated that they perceived changes across all the aforementioned cognitive domains following infection. The most frequent and pronounced difficulties were experienced in the domains of attention (e.g., problems with sustained attention and multitasking, distractibility), memory (e.g., problems with short-term, episodic, and prospective memory, and difficulties retrieving specific words), and sensory experiences. Cognitive symptoms were often accompanied by fatigue or dizziness. The perceived cognitive deficits caused severe distress and mental health difficulties among participants, including reduced emotional regulation. Experiencing these symptoms, particularly cognitive ones, noticeably reduced their functioning and negatively affected their self-image and psychological well-being. The insights gained from this study may contribute to improved recognition of post-COVID cognitive difficulties and to the development of interventions tailored to the needs of individuals with PASC.
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