Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Brain fog describes a heterogenous symptom encompassing cognitive symptoms, mental fatigue and reduced mental clarity, particularly prevalent among individuals with Post COVID - 19 Condition (PCC). This study aimed to translate and validate the Brain Fog Scale (BFS), originally developed in Polish, among a Greek-speaking population and explore whether individuals diagnosed with PCC report significantly more brain fog symptoms, compared to those without PCC.

METHODS

The BFS was translated in Greek, using a forward - backward translation process and was administered online. Principal Component Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were run to assess factor structure.

RESULTS

A total of 602 individuals (76.6% female) completed the BFS, of which 36 had a self-reported diagnosis of PCC. Internal consistency for the entire sample was excellent, α = 0.96. The BFS largely retained its original three factor structure with little variability: (1) impaired cognitive acuity (α = 0.95), (2) inattentiveness (α = 0.92), (3) mental exhaustion (α = 0.84). A Mann-Whitney U test revealed that individuals diagnosed with PCC reported significantly more brain fog symptoms compared to those without PCC, U = 2178.50, p = .011. MANOVA analyses further indicated significantly higher scores in the impaired cognition Factor among individuals with PCC, F(1, 125) = 7.32, p = .008.

CONCLUSION

The BFS comprises a valid tool for assessment of brain fog and can facilitate person-centred rehabilitation planning in PCC. Findings are discussed in relation to the literature regarding brain fog symptom burden in PCC with suggestions for future research made.

MeSH

Brain, Cognitive Dysfunction, Signs And Symptoms, Covid-19, Cognition Disorders