Rapid Cycling Bipolar Affective Disorder After COVID-19 Infection Accompanied With Neurological Symptoms

Abstract

Aims

This case highlights an atypical presentation of a patient with known history of Bipolar Affective Disorder who experienced rapid mood changes and atypical neurological symptoms after he was tested positive for COVID-19.

Methods

Here we present a 63 years old male patient who was an inpatient in low secure forensic unit and has a history of Bipolar Affective Disorder. Patient reported that he started to experience COVID-19 symptoms and was tested positive on 12th April 2020. It was observed that patient experienced low mood, flat effect, anhedonia and decreased appetite for more than a month after he was tested positive. According to his medical records, he experienced significant mood changes suggesting major depression and manic/hypomanic episodes, 4 times to be specific, over 6 months period after having diagnosed with COVID-19 which is correlated with diagnostic guidelines for Rapid cycling Bipolar Disorder. Patient was observed to experience 1 major depressive episode over period of 6 months before his COVID-19 diagnosis. He also reported experiencing neurological symptoms such as tremor, numbness and unsteadiness on one leg. Although it was found that his lithium level was above therapeutic range at the beginning of these symptoms, even after successful reduction of Lithium dose, patient continued to experience these symptoms for another month. There were no gross abnormalities in physical examination and his blood results were not significant. In addition to Electroencephalogram (EEG); Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) were conducted and the results were all insignificant. During this time, he was fairly compliant with his medications. Additionally, his mood was stabilised only partially with the medications he was taking. He did not have any other major environmental, psychological or physical changes that might explain his rapid mood cycling.

Results

Authors considered various different causes for this patient's fluctuating mood. One confounding factor that was considered was blood lithium levels. However, that was proven to be irrelevant since patient continued to experience mood changes and neurological symptoms with therapeutic lithium levels. Also no other organic reasons were found that could explain his neurological symptoms.

Conclusion

Although, authors consider that longer observation period and other confounding factors could affect findings, they cannot confidently reject the impact of COVID-19 infection on patients with enduring mental illness and recommend further research which could lead to more comprehensive guidelines