Severe and long‐lasting neuropsychiatric symptoms after mild respiratory symptoms caused by COVID‐19: A case report

Bibliographic Details
Title: Severe and long‐lasting neuropsychiatric symptoms after mild respiratory symptoms caused by COVID‐19: A case report
Authors: Ryosuke Jozuka, Hiroki Kimura, Takashi Uematsu, Hidetsugu Fujigaki, Yasuko Yamamoto, Masato Kobayashi, Kazuya Kawabata, Haruki Koike, Toshiya Inada, Kuniaki Saito, Masahisa Katsuno, Norio Ozaki
Source: Neuropsychopharmacology Reports, Vol 42, Iss 1, Pp 114-119 (2022)
Publisher Information: Wiley, 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Therapeutics. Pharmacology
LCC:Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Subject Terms: case report, COVID‐19, cytokines, encephalopathy, long COVID, Therapeutics. Pharmacology, RM1-950, Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, RC321-571
More Details: Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is known to cause not only respiratory but also neuropsychiatric symptoms, which are assumed to be derived from a cytokine storm and its effects on the central nervous systems. Patients with COVID‐19 who develop severe respiratory symptoms are known to show severe neuropsychiatric symptoms such as cerebrovascular disease and encephalopathy. However, the detailed clinical courses of patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms caused by mild or asymptomatic COVID‐19 remain poorly understood. Here, we present a case of COVID‐19 who presented with severe and prolonged neuropsychiatric symptoms subsequent to mild respiratory symptoms. Case presentation A 55‐year‐old female with COVID‐19 accompanied by mild respiratory symptoms showed delusion, psychomotor excitement, and poor communication ability during quarantine outside the hospital. Considering her diminished respiratory symptoms, her neuropsychiatric symptoms were initially regarded as psychogenic reactions. However, as she showed progressive disturbance of consciousness accompanied by an abnormal electroencephalogram, she was diagnosed with post‐COVID‐19 encephalopathy. Although her impaired consciousness and elevated cytokine level improved after steroid pulse therapy, several neuropsychiatric symptoms, including a loss of concentration, unsteadiness while walking, and fatigue, remained. Conclusions This case suggests the importance of both recognizing that even apparently mild COVID‐19‐related respiratory symptoms can lead to severe and persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms, and elucidating the mechanisms, treatment, and long‐term course of COVID‐19‐related neuropsychiatric symptoms in the future.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2574-173X
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2574-173X
DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12222
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/fb3f33b34975442384d232a755081e43
Accession Number: edsdoj.fb3f33b34975442384d232a755081e43
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2574173X
DOI:10.1002/npr2.12222
Published in:Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
Language:English