Brief Psychotic Disorder during COVID-19 Infection: Marked Stressor or Neuropsychiatric Symptoms?

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 virus outbreak appeared in December 2019 and was announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. Recent cases of reactive psychosis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported. However, there has been observed reduced interest in cases of acute psychosis affecting patients with COVID-19. Here, we present a clinical case of a female patient who showed a brief psychotic disorder during symptomatic infection with COVID-19. Methods: We discuss the differential diagnosis of brief psychotic disorder with marked stressor and neuropsychiatric symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Although the stress factor appeared to be linked to the acute psychosis onset in our COVID-19 positive patient, the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder due to the viral coronavirus infection is worthy of being reported and discussed. Results : The stress factor appears to be linked to the onset of acute psychosis in this COVID-19 positive patient; the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder due to the viral coronavirus infection is worth to be mentioned. Thus, we suggest that a new psychosis case associated with COVID-19 infection due to potential immune-mediated neuropathogenesis would justify further investigation. Conclusion: Through this case report, we highlight the need for vigilant monitoring of neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals with COVID-19 infection.