Post Covid Bipolar Affective Disorder: A Case Report

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It can cause illness ranging from mild common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle east respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and even death due to its complications. Besides the indirect impact of the pandemic, a diagnosis of COVID-19 is itself associated with a greater risk of subsequent mental illness. Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain and behavior disorder characterized by severe shifts in a person’s mood and energy, making it difficult for the person to function. Bipolar disorder causes repeated mood swings, or episodes, that can make someone feel very high (mania) or very low (depressive). The cyclic episodes are punctuated by normal moods. Here, we present a case of Post Covid patient who initially developed maniac symptoms after being in self quarantine for Covid illness followed by depressive episodes after few months and later diagnosed with a Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD). He was then treated with Atypical Anti Psychotics and Anti Convulsants. A person infected with Covid 19 treatment should not only focus on treating the virus and minimizing the spread of the disease by self-quarantine of the patient rather should also include and focus on the aspects of mental health and the impact that follows after a Viral infection. Including the mental health aspect of an ill person in quarantine can prevent a lot of mental illness post infection as well as reduce the number of death reported in Post Covid period due to suicide.

KEYWORDS: Bipolar affective Disorder, Covid -19, Mental illness, Quarantine