COVID-19 induced psychosis. Should we be concerned?
Introduction Coronaviruses traditionally are considered to cause pulmonary diseases, often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Since the COVID-19 pandemic start in early 2020, there have been reports of a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Recent data show significant rates of neur...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822005296/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1827753913438175232 |
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| author | P. Costa I. Pinto P. Branco |
| author_facet | P. Costa I. Pinto P. Branco |
| author_sort | P. Costa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Coronaviruses traditionally are considered to cause pulmonary diseases, often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Since the COVID-19 pandemic start in early 2020, there have been reports of a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Recent data show significant rates of neuropsychiatric diagnosis over the subsequent 6 months post-infection. Some of the data suggest the COVID-19 as a cause of new-onset psychotic symptoms in patients with no psychiatric history. Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts, and confusion were the most frequently reported psychotic features which low doses of antipsychotics seem to be helpful.
Objectives
Brief literature review about the relationship between COVID-19 and new-onset psychotic symptomatology.
Methods
Non-systematic review through PubMed research using the terms “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “pandemics”, “psychotic symptoms” and “psychosis”.
Results
The severity of the infection, especially in those with the need for hospitalization/intensive care, seems to have a clear effect on the gravity of subsequent neuropsychiatric symptoms, namely psychosis. Viral invasion of the central neural system, hypercoagulable states, and neuroinflammation are potential associated mechanisms. It’s important to consider the effect of therapies that may have the potential to cause psychosis (eg steroids). According to recent literature, around 0.9-4% of people exposed to the COVID-19 virus develop psychotic episodes, which is much higher than the incidence in the general population.
Conclusions
Post-COVID-19 related psychosis has been reported in different nations. The pathophysiology is yet not clear, although the hyperinflammatory response has been suggested as the main mechanism for the neuropsychiatric manifestations. Given the high number of case reports with similar presentations, it’s important to proceed with more investigations.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:42:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-361e813f040245dc9a0c5a3d24068a99 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:42:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-361e813f040245dc9a0c5a3d24068a992023-11-17T05:08:13ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S201S20210.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.529COVID-19 induced psychosis. Should we be concerned?P. Costa0I. Pinto1P. Branco2Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 2 - Psicogeriatria, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1 - Unidade Partilhada, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 2 - Psicogeriatria, Lisboa, Portugal Introduction Coronaviruses traditionally are considered to cause pulmonary diseases, often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Since the COVID-19 pandemic start in early 2020, there have been reports of a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Recent data show significant rates of neuropsychiatric diagnosis over the subsequent 6 months post-infection. Some of the data suggest the COVID-19 as a cause of new-onset psychotic symptoms in patients with no psychiatric history. Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts, and confusion were the most frequently reported psychotic features which low doses of antipsychotics seem to be helpful. Objectives Brief literature review about the relationship between COVID-19 and new-onset psychotic symptomatology. Methods Non-systematic review through PubMed research using the terms “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “pandemics”, “psychotic symptoms” and “psychosis”. Results The severity of the infection, especially in those with the need for hospitalization/intensive care, seems to have a clear effect on the gravity of subsequent neuropsychiatric symptoms, namely psychosis. Viral invasion of the central neural system, hypercoagulable states, and neuroinflammation are potential associated mechanisms. It’s important to consider the effect of therapies that may have the potential to cause psychosis (eg steroids). According to recent literature, around 0.9-4% of people exposed to the COVID-19 virus develop psychotic episodes, which is much higher than the incidence in the general population. Conclusions Post-COVID-19 related psychosis has been reported in different nations. The pathophysiology is yet not clear, although the hyperinflammatory response has been suggested as the main mechanism for the neuropsychiatric manifestations. Given the high number of case reports with similar presentations, it’s important to proceed with more investigations. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822005296/type/journal_article“COVID-19”“SARS-CoV-2”“pandemics”“psychotic symptoms”“psychosis” |
| spellingShingle | P. Costa I. Pinto P. Branco COVID-19 induced psychosis. Should we be concerned? European Psychiatry “COVID-19” “SARS-CoV-2” “pandemics” “psychotic symptoms” “psychosis” |
| title | COVID-19 induced psychosis. Should we be concerned? |
| title_full | COVID-19 induced psychosis. Should we be concerned? |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 induced psychosis. Should we be concerned? |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 induced psychosis. Should we be concerned? |
| title_short | COVID-19 induced psychosis. Should we be concerned? |
| title_sort | covid 19 induced psychosis should we be concerned |
| topic | “COVID-19” “SARS-CoV-2” “pandemics” “psychotic symptoms” “psychosis” |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822005296/type/journal_article |
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