Type of article: Case Report: Case of Late onset Paranoid Schizophrenia following COVID 19 infection: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: COVID 19 is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease has spread worldwide, leading to ongoing pandemic. Although it is most often linked with respiratory symptoms, it might result in neuropsychiatric complications CASE DESCRIPTION: A 76 year old female patient presented with symptoms of auditory hallucinations since last 9 months. She reported hearing of derogatory voices of multiple persons discussing about her continuously. She developed persecutory delusions few weeks later. She had symptoms of COVID 19 infection 1 month prior to the onset of psychiatric symptoms and was tested positive for the same. She was started on tab. Risperidone 2mg/day later increased to 3mg/day and tab. Trihexiphenidyl 2mg/day. With antipsychotic treatment, there was significant improvement. The delusions resolved and hallucinations reduced by around 80%, according to patient. DISCUSSION: Emerging research indicates that COVID 19 is multi-systemic vascular disease affecting several organs. Numerous influenza virus strains already been implicated in development of mental illnesses such as acute psychosis, schizophrenia, depressive disorders and anxiety disorders.