A rare case of catatonia associated with COVID-19 infection

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has well-documented common symptoms such as cough and fever. There is also extensive documentation on the more severe outcomes, such as sepsis and death. However, there is minimal literature regarding the neuropsychiatric effects of COVID-19. This case report outlines a patient who presented with apparent psychosis shortly after COVID-19 infection. Shortly after hospitalization, she began to develop symptoms of catatonia. Her catatonia subsequently was recognized and resolved with appropriate treatment with lorazepam. There have been a handful of similar reports regarding patients with COVID-19 developing catatonia and responding well to lorazepam. Therefore, catatonia may be associated with COVID-19. Clinicians should consider catatonia diagnosis in patients with COVID-19 who have changes in behaviour, mental status, or motor function, to prevent deterioration secondary to untreated catatonia. Furthermore, COVID-19 testing should be considered in patients with acute psychiatric presentations.