Acute Onset of Mania and Psychosis in the Context of Long-COVID: A Case Study

Orme W; Nanavaty N; Carlson M; San Miguel A; Jones G; Head Jh; Fowler Jc; Podell K; Weinstein B; Blackmon A; Madan A

doi:10.1016/j.psycr.2023.100138

Acute Onset of Mania and Psychosis in the Context of Long-COVID: A Case Study

Psychiatry Res Case Rep. 2023 Jun 25:100138. doi: 10.1016/j.psycr.2023.100138. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Orme W^{1

2}, Nanavaty N¹, Carlson M¹, San Miguel A¹, Jones G², Head Jh^{1

3}, Fowler Jc^{1

2

4

5

6

7}, Podell K^{5

8

9}, Weinstein B¹, Blackmon A⁴, Madan A^{1

2

5

6

7

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas.
² Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas.
³ The Center for Performing Arts Medicine, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas.
⁴ Primary Care, Internal Medicine, Houston Methodist, Houston Texas.
⁵ Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas.
⁶ Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.
⁸ Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas.
⁹ Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.
¹⁰ Primary Care Group, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.

Abstract

Acute phase COVID-19 has been associated with an increased risk for several mental health conditions, but less is known about the interaction of long COVID and mental illness. Prior reports have linked long COVID to PTSD, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive symptoms, and insomnia. This case report describes a novel presentation of mania arising in the context of long COVID symptoms with attention given to possible interacting etiological pathways. The case report also highlights the need for integrated, multidisciplinary treatment to support patients whose alarming, confusing, and multidetermined symptoms increase risk of psychological deterioration.

Keywords: Long COVID; bipolar disorder; complex comorbidities; integrated care; mania; personalized medicine.

Publication types

Case Reports