Possible COVID-Related Psychosis Treated with ECT- a Case Report

 Out on PubMed, from clinicians in New York, is this case report:

COVID-19-Induced Psychosis and Suicidal Behavior: Case Report.

Chacko M, Job A, Caston F 3rd, George P, Yacoub A, Cáceda R.SN Compr Clin Med. 2020 Sep 26:1-5. doi: 10.1007/s42399-020-00530-7. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33015547 
The abstract is copied below:
The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with different types of stressors: fear of infection, financial burden, and social isolation. Additionally, COVID-19 infection seems to increase the risk for neuropsychiatric symptoms including psychosis. We present a case of a 52-year-old male with no previous psychiatric history who developed severe paranoia leading to a suicide attempt. He was successfully treated with a combination of milieu treatment, pharmacotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. We add to the nascent literature that COVID-19, as other coronaviruses, can increase the risk for severe psychosis and suicidal behavior.
The pdf is here.
The title of this case report is a bit misleading, as the patient did not have active COVID infection, merely a positive antibody test. Nonetheless, the case is interesting and instructive, with a lengthy discussion of potential mechanisms by which coronaviruses might cause psychosis. There is no detail at all about the ECT, only that 6 treatments were given with good result.



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