Maria Moazzam

Relationship between COVID-19 and Psychosis: a Conceptual Review

Started May 20, 2022

Abstract or project description

COVID- 19, also known as the SARS- CoV- 2 identified in 2019/ 2020 as a disease that caused a case of pandemic and panic throughout the world. As of currently, the world is still under the effect of COVID- 19 and its aftermath. The notable and common symptoms recognized by the CDC include fever, cough, shortness of breath, congestion, etc... However, current research shows that there could be a new possible symptom that could help better diagnose and recognize the signs of COVID- 19. Delirium is a common consequence of COVID- 19 but it is rapidly developing into psychosis. Psychosis is a mental disorder that can cause a patient into mental disarry, confusion, and distraught along with disconnection from reality. Symptoms of psychosis include hallucinations, allusions, agitation, difficultly thinking and understanding, and disorientation. There have been countless case reports of patients with no medical or family history of psychosis or any mental health problems who were later diagnosed with psychosis. Suspicions have been raised of the virus causing inflammation in the brain which directly impacts the kynurenine pathway through activation. In this conceptual review, we will be analyzing multiple case reports of being diagnosed with psychosis after contracting the COVID- 19 virus, the possible reasons why behind this phenomenon, possible changes in the brain during COVID- 19 virus caused by psychosis, and possible solutions. It is to be noted that most, if not all, patients in the cited studies and cases have no previous records of any sorts of mental illness or any family/genetical history of mental illness that could have caused the psychosis.