Clinical-Immunological Correlates in Post-COVID-19 Endogenous Psychoses.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Endogenous psychoses can be influenced by various factors, including infections.
• The long-term neurological and immunological consequences of COVID-19 are still being investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical and immunological impact of coronavirus infection on endogenous psychoses.
• To differentiate the immunological profiles associated with early versus late-onset psychoses following COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• A study of 33 female patients with depressive-delusional states post-coronavirus infection.
• Assessed psychopathological symptoms using PANSS and HDRS-21 scales.
• Measured inflammatory markers (leukocyte elastase, α1-proteinase inhibitor), neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, and neutrophil:lymphocyte index.

Main Results:

• Late-onset psychosis (2-6 months post-COVID-19) showed increased acute-phase proteins and neutrophil degranulation, linked to positive affect and incongruent delusions.
• Early-onset psychosis (1-2 months post-COVID-19) presented with decreased neutrophil count and low leukocyte elastase activity, associated with negative affect and congruent delusions.
• Distinct immunological profiles correlate with different clinical presentations of psychosis after COVID-19.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 infection appears to modulate neuroinflammation and the structure of endogenous psychosis.
• The timing of psychosis onset after COVID-19 influences the associated inflammatory markers and clinical symptoms.
• These findings suggest a potential link between viral infection, immune response, and psychiatric outcomes.