A case described severe neuropsychiatric symptoms despite relatively mild respiratory findings. Recovery followed combined treatment, without an isolated test of lorazepam.
The presentation and course
A woman without a psychiatric history developed concurrent manic and delirious symptoms with COVID-19 pneumonia. She remained afebrile with normal oxygen saturation during the reported illness, while inflammatory markers were elevated.
The team used standard infection-related care and lorazepam plus quetiapine for neuropsychiatric symptoms. The report described full recovery after nine days.
Mechanism and treatment attribution remain uncertain
The authors considered neuroinflammation a possible explanation, rather than demonstrating it as the unique mechanism. Several interventions and the natural course could contribute to improvement.
The case does not establish that lorazepam alone treated the syndrome or that similar symptoms in another person are caused by COVID-19. A forensic account should preserve baseline history, mental-state findings, oxygenation, laboratory results, co-medication, and timing. Severe behavioral change should not automatically be equated with either sedative intoxication or a primary psychiatric disorder.
Source paper
Original analysis of the supplied journal article, identified as PMC8562355.
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