Psychological Disorders in Post-COVID Patients: Rationale for Differentiated Approaches to Psychotherapy and Neurorehabilitation

The psychological consequences of COVID-19 represent a widespread, heterogeneous, and polymorphic phenomenon. These disorders significantly impair the quality of life, productivity, and social rehabilitation of COVID-19 survivors. However, global healthcare lacks a systemic approach to the medical rehabilitation of post-COVID patients, partly due to the wide variety of disorders affecting the nervous, bronchopulmonary, cardiovascular, and other systems, including psycho-emotional manifestations. Based on empirical data, this study aims to identify rehabilitation targets for patients experiencing the psychiatric and psychological consequences of COVID-19, as well as to provide a theoretical rationale for differentiated approaches to comprehensive psychological intervention and neurorehabilitation for post-COVID syndrome (PCS). This regional clinical and epidemiological study of the population in the Northwestern Federal District included a questionnaire survey (n = 3,500) and an in-depth assessment of the psychoneurological status of PCS patients (n = 300) conducted between 2023 and 2025. The high-risk profile for PCS development was characterized by elevated stress levels and a history of psychoneurological disorders. Functional neurological assessment and neuropsychological examination were used to profile the patients’ quality of life and attitudes towards the disease. The research revealed seven main factors (PCS subphenotypes): anxiety, depression, asthenia, cognitive dysfunction, neuromuscular disorders, autonomic dysfunctions, and sensory disorders. Finally, the article describes rehabilitation targets for PCS patients and proposes theoretical recommendations for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 for each key subphenotype, incorporating principles of psychological correction and neurorehabilitation into recovery programs.