Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39934846›Full record

ReviewBMC medicine2025

Assessment of psychosocial aspects in adults in post-COVID-19 condition: the EURONET-SOMA recommendations on core outcome domains for clinical and research use.

Stefan Salzmann, Lars de Vroege, Petra Engelmann, Per Fink, Susanne Fischer, Stephan Frisch, Lise Kirstine Gormsen, Katharina Hüfner, Willem J Kop, Ferenc Köteles and 13 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in BMC medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

23 authors.

Stefan SalzmannDivision of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Gutenbergstraße 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany. stefan.salzmann@staff.uni-marburg.de.
Lars de VroegeClinical Centre of Excellence for Body, Mind, and Health, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Petra EngelmannDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Per FinkClinic for Functional Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Susanne FischerClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Stephan FrischDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
Lise Kirstine GormsenClinic for Functional Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Katharina HüfnerUniversity Hospital of Psychiatry II, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
Willem J KopDepartment of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research On Psychology and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Ferenc KötelesDepartment of General Psychology and Methodology, Institute of Psychology, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary.
Nadine LehnenKlinik Und Poliklinik Für Psychosomatische Medizin Und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Bernd LöweDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Christoph PiehDepartment for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria.
Victor PitronVIFASOM (Vigilance Fatigue Sommeil Et Santé Publique), Université Paris Cité, Paris, 75004, France.
Charlotte Ulrikka RaskDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Markku SainioOutpatient Clinic for Functional Disorders, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Rainer SchaefertDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine, University and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Meike Shedden-MoraDepartment for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria.
Anne ToussaintDepartment for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria.
Roland von KänelDepartment of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Ursula WernekeDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Division of Psychiatry, Sunderby Research Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Winfried RiefDivision of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Gutenbergstraße 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany.
EURONET-SOMA Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHarmonizing core outcome domains allows for pooling data, comparing interventions, and streamlining research evaluation. At the same time clinicians require concise and feasible measures for routine practice. Considering the heterogeneity of post-COVID-19 condition, a biopsychosocial approach requires sufficient coverage of the psychosocial dimension with assessments. Previous recommendations for core outcome sets have serious limitations regarding the psychosocial aspects of post-COVID-19 condition. This paper specifically focuses on psychosocial outcomes for adults with post-COVID-19 condition, providing both a comprehensive set of outcome domains for research and a streamlined clinical core set tailored for routine clinical use.

methodsIn a structured Consensus Development Approach, the European Network to improve diagnostic, treatment, and healthcare for patients with persistent somatic symptoms (EURONET-SOMA) developed psychosocial core outcome domains and assessments regarding post-COVID-19 condition. The experts identified variables and instruments which should be considered in studies on adults suffering from post-COVID-19 condition, and which are feasible in the clinical setting and relevant for research.

resultsWe identified three higher-order dimensions with each encompassing several domains: The first higher-order dimension, "outcomes", encompasses (1) the classification/ diagnostics of post-COVID-19 condition, (2) somatic symptoms (including fatigue), (3) the psychopathological status and mental comorbidities, (4) the physical status and somatic comorbidities, (5) neurocognitive symptoms, and (6) illness consequences. The second higher-order domain "mechanisms" encompasses (7) cognitive components, (8) affective components, (9) behavioral components, (10) social components, and (11) psychobiological bridge markers (e.g., neuroimmunological and psychoneuroendocrinological variables). The third higher-order domain, "risk factors", includes factors such as (12) socioeconomic status and sociocultural factors, (13) pre-existing mental and somatic health issues, (14) personality factors (e.g., neuroticism), (15) adverse childhood experiences, (16) ongoing disability or pension claim, and (17) social media use. For each domain, specific instruments are suggested for research purposes and clinical use.

conclusionsThe recommended core domains help to increase consistency in a biopsychosocial approach to post-COVID-19 condition across investigations, improve synergies, and facilitate decision-making when comparing different interventional approaches. It allows to better identify relevant subgroups in heterogeneous post-COVID-19 condition populations offering practical tools for routine clinical practice through the clinical core set.

Indexed as

COVID-19Outcome Assessment, Health CareAdultConsensusEuropeHumansSARS-CoV-2Core outcome domainsEURONET-SOMAInstrumentsPost-COVID-19 conditionPost-COVID-19 syndromePsychosocial aspects

Identifiers

PMID39934846
PMCPMC11818037

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.