A new study from Kennedy Krieger Institute is calling attention to an emerging mental health crisis among children with long COVID. Researchers found that nearly 40% of pediatric patients with long COVID reported feeling significant symptoms of anxiety or depression.
The study included 139 patients evaluated at Kennedy Krieger's Pediatric Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Clinic. Clinicians used mental health screening surveys to assess symptoms reported by the patients. The screenings also included measures of key aspects of quality of life including: physical functioning, emotional functioning, social functioning, and school functioning. More than 1 in 3 children reported that they were experiencing elevated symptoms of anxiety or depression (i.e. worry, sleep problems, and mood irritability).
Dr. Laura Malone, director of the clinic and co-investigator in this research, says half of these children had no prior mental health concerns or diagnosis.
Long COVID is a complex condition. We're seeing children and teens who were doing well before their COVID infection now struggling to attend school, socialize, or even enjoy basic activities."
Dr. Laura Malone, Director, Kennedy Krieger's Pediatric Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Clinic
Key findings include:
- 1 in 4 children had new anxiety symptoms, and 1 in 7 had new depressive symptoms, despite no prior diagnosis-a sign long COVID is triggering new mental health challenges.
- On average, children reported a quality of life similar to peers with cancer or cystic fibrosis, underscoring the severe functional impact of the condition.
- The strongest predictor of poor quality of life was a "sense of ineffectiveness," like feeling unable to succeed in life or enjoy activities.
"These children are losing confidence in themselves and their ability to participate in daily life," said Dr. Malone. "That loss of function can be just as devastating as the physical symptoms. It is important to identify and treat both to improve quality of life for children with long COVID."
While previous studies have hinted at long COVID's mental health toll, this is one of the first to use standardized, validated measures of mental health issues in a pediatric long COVID population. The study also warns that traditional screening tools may not capture the full picture, since physical symptoms of long COVID (like fatigue or dizziness) can overlap with those of anxiety or depression.
Researchers at Kennedy Krieger urge healthcare providers to integrate routine mental health screening into care for children with long COVID. Early identification could mean faster access to the right interventions, therefore helping kids recover more quickly.
Multiple health conditions linked to higher depression risk