A Case Report of Non-Reactive Psychosis in a COVID-19 Patient

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 causes reactive psychiatric symptoms like anxiety, depression, insomnia etc besides significant inflammatory response. A number of COVID-19 patients are found to present with complex neuropsychiatric syndromes, including the first onset of psychosis, that seem to be directly related to brain damage in the context of COVID-19. Most cases of psychotic disorder in COVID-19 patients are being found in individuals with no personal or family history of mental illness. Case Description: A 33-year-old man presented with acute restlessness, agitation, wandering, vandalizing things, suspiciousness, hallucinatory behaviour, decreased sleep for 3 days duration. There was no past history or family history of any psychiatric illness. There was a history of mild grade fever 7 days before the onset of the psychotic symptoms. The patient was uncooperative, irritable, and had hallucinatory behaviour. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) was positive. The patient responded to injectable antipsychotic haloperidol which was later changed to Tab Olanzepine 5 mg. The patient developed no COVID symptoms and no psychotic symptoms were seen further. Conclusion: There is a possibility of a psychosis break as a COVID-19 clinical presentation, suggesting potential participation of inflammatory and autoimmunologic phenomena triggered as a response to the coronavirus infection.