Chandelier
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Co-Designing an Online Narrative-Based Intervention for Breathing and Psychological Wellbeing for Adolescents With Post-COVID Syndrome
These symptoms can last for many months and affect school attendance, friendships, daily activities, and emotional wellbeing. There are currently few treatments designed specifically for children and young people with PCS, and even fewer that address both physical symptoms and emotional wellbeing.
Young people and families have also reported that services do not always reflect their experiences and needs. In this study, we worked with seven young people with PCS to co-design an online group intervention. Participants reviewed, tested, and refined the programme alongside clinicians. The intervention combines psychology and physiotherapy approaches.
It uses ideas from narrative therapy to help young people understand their experiences, recognise their strengths, and connect with others facing similar challenges. It also includes activities to support breathing, body awareness, and symptom self management. Young people directly influenced the content, structure, and delivery of the programme, helping to identify what was useful and what changes were needed.
The final intervention consists of an online group session and supporting resources that were shaped by participants feedback. This co-designed intervention aims to help young people manage symptoms more confidently, improve their relationship with their bodies and breathing, and reduce feelings of isolation. The findings will inform future research to evaluate whether the programme is feasible, acceptable, and helpful for young people living with PCS.
Web | DOI | PDF | Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry | Open Access
Wells, Charlotte; Sonnappa, Samatha; Salvo, Tania; Woodman, Deborah; Segal, Terry Y.; Christie, Deborah
Abstract
Purpose
Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) also known as long COVID affects up to 66.5% of children and young people (CYP) following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, anxiety, brain fog, breathlessness, and post-exertional symptom exacerbation, resulting in reduced school attendance and recreational participation. This study aimed to co-design an online group intervention to support psychological wellbeing, breathing retraining, symptom management, and peer connection during PCS recovery.Method
A co-design approach refined a ‘journey-of-life’ online intervention for adolescents with PCS and incorporated respiratory physiotherapy activities.Results
Seven CYP provided feedback on the intervention structure, pacing, accessibility, and content. Participants valued the breathing retraining with narrative-based psychological approaches and highlighted the importance of peer connection, regular breaks, and accessible online resources to accommodate fatigue and cognitive symptoms. Feedback informed refinement of the intervention structure, physiotherapy activities, and supporting digital materials.Conclusion
Co-design with CYP with lived experience of PCS supported the development of a patient-centred online intervention integrating psychological and physiotherapy approaches. The findings highlight the value of involving CYP in the development of interventions for complex long-term conditions and demonstrate the potential of accessible telehealth approaches to support recovery and wellbeing. Further evaluation of feasibility, acceptability, and clinical impact is warranted.Plain Language Summary
Some children and young people experience ongoing symptoms after COVID-19 infection, often called post-COVID syndrome (PCS) or long COVID. Common symptoms include severe tiredness, headaches, anxiety, difficulties with concentration (brain fog), breathlessness, and feeling worse after physical or mental activity.These symptoms can last for many months and affect school attendance, friendships, daily activities, and emotional wellbeing. There are currently few treatments designed specifically for children and young people with PCS, and even fewer that address both physical symptoms and emotional wellbeing.
Young people and families have also reported that services do not always reflect their experiences and needs. In this study, we worked with seven young people with PCS to co-design an online group intervention. Participants reviewed, tested, and refined the programme alongside clinicians. The intervention combines psychology and physiotherapy approaches.
It uses ideas from narrative therapy to help young people understand their experiences, recognise their strengths, and connect with others facing similar challenges. It also includes activities to support breathing, body awareness, and symptom self management. Young people directly influenced the content, structure, and delivery of the programme, helping to identify what was useful and what changes were needed.
The final intervention consists of an online group session and supporting resources that were shaped by participants feedback. This co-designed intervention aims to help young people manage symptoms more confidently, improve their relationship with their bodies and breathing, and reduce feelings of isolation. The findings will inform future research to evaluate whether the programme is feasible, acceptable, and helpful for young people living with PCS.
Web | DOI | PDF | Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry | Open Access