Psychosis And Covid

[Barquentine]

74-year old with no previous history of hallucinations believes she can hear voices, has seen a couple of visual hallucinations and may also have had one episode of phantosmia (believed her neighbours were pumping poison gas into her house). Throughout lockdowns she would not let any of us visit her & came to our house maybe twice when she sat in garden. My question is - could she have had Covid with no symptoms but which has damaged whatever brain areas are regarded as implicit in causing/allowing hallucinations? I am suggesting we arrange an antibody test for her to check this. What are your thoughts? Many thanks.

[anneasquith]

I would suggest a Dr.

[rowanwitch]

Mum started having hallucinations a year ago, but they are due to her worsening vascular dementia. Sounds like a gp visit is the first thing to arrange

[Sqad]

Possibly, unlikely but anything can and does happen in Medicine.

My money would go on that the two events were unrelated.

A Psychiatrist would offer a better opinion.

[anneasquith]

IMO. If she has been isolating, seeing less people, minimum physical contact, poorer diet, dehydration, and concerned about Covid. . She will not be the only one with these and similar symptoms.

[anneasquith]

I am not a psychiatrist. :-)

[Peter Pedant]

Dr

[roopower]

Could be several reasons for this. A relative of my sister in laws had similar problems and was on the verge of going into care when her dr discovered she had a severe urinary tract infection, strong antibiotics cleared it up and she has been very well for several years now.

[bednobs]

You could get an antibody test but I can't see what the point would be - what would any result add to her management?

[Sqad]

I agree totally with bednobs, an antibody test for your question would be useless.