There are literally hundreds[1] of literature reviews and meta-analyses about long COVID alone, based on *thousands* of publications about it. Go read some.
You don't get to go all "oh idk is there even any credible research about it" as if there's still any reasonable doubt that it's a real condition. There isn't.
And fun fact, both depression and "psychosomatic" symptoms have in recent years been increasingly linked to underlying physiological pathology and are no longer considered psychogenic symptoms by many, to a point where it's seeming like "psychosomatic" has all along been an excuse to blame people for conditions healthcare has been unable or unwilling to diagnose and treat.
> You don't get to go all "oh idk is there even any credible research about it" as if there's still any reasonable doubt that it's a real condition. There isn't
There's a lot of credible-sounding misinformation on this running around. Wouldn't be too harsh on OP.
It would be unusual if it wasn't real in some cases. Fatigue is common following viral infections, in general. It's not that unusual to be left very weak for months after a severe bout of influenza. The herpesviruses can do it too, as will most of the classics like measles, even a common cold if you're particularly unlucky.
Just intuitively, a virus causes damage to the infected tissues. The more severe/long-lasting the infection before recovery, the more likely some of that damage is going to be permanent in the form of scar tissue, rather than normal healing.
It almost certainly is associated with depression. Both in that if there is reduced lung function, etc. it may cause depression. But also in that depression can make an otherwise tolerable physical burden intolerable.
It's a respiratory infection. It would be surprising if every case was psychosomatic, given that other respiratory infections can also cause long term symptoms.
