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Case report
Severe psychiatric disturbance and attempted suicide in a patient with COVID-19 and no psychiatric history
  1. George Gillett1 and
  2. Iain Jordan2
  1. 1Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  2. 2Oxford Psychological Medicine Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr George Gillett; george.gillett{at}live.co.uk

Abstract

A previously fit and well 37-year-old male healthcare worker presented with confusion, psychotic symptoms and a suicide attempt in the context of a new COVID-19 diagnosis. Following surgical interventions and an extended admission to the intensive care unit, he made a good recovery in terms of both his physical and mental health. A number of factors likely contributed to his presentation, including SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe insomnia, worry, healthcare worker-related stress, and the unique social and psychological stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This case highlights the need to further characterise the specific psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 in community settings, and should remind general medical clinicians to be mindful of comorbid psychiatric symptoms when assessing patients with newly diagnosed COVID-19.

  • delirium
  • psychotic disorders (incl schizophrenia)
  • public health
  • infectious diseases
  • suicide (psychiatry)

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-239191

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @george_gillett

    • Contributors Both authors made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, drafting and revising of the article. GG wrote the first draft of the manuscript and IJ supervised the project.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.