Side-effect expectations are associated with disability, physical fitness, and somatic symptoms 3 months after post-COVID neurological inpatient rehabilitation.

This study highlights the associations of side-effect expectations with post-COVID-19 condition rehabilitation outcomes. Higher side-effect expectations were associated to poorer outcomes, indicating a nocebo effect. Surprisingly, positive expectations were linked to worse outcomes, possibly due to unrealistic optimism. Managing patient expectations realistically and addressing side-effect concerns seems crucial for optimizing rehabilitation outcomes.