[evan_au (OP)]

A few instances of COVID-19 infection possibly causing psychotic episodes months later?
- Another reason to minimize infection rates until a vaccine arrives!

See: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/28/health/covid-psychosis-mental.html

[charles1948]

So far there don't seem to be any suggestions that the Covid-19 virus directly infects and attacks the human brain. Unlike other diseases such as rabies, which do attack our brains.

Therefore any psychological problems that we experience from Covid-19  aren't caused by the virus itself. Only by the hysterical  reactions which it apparently produces in some of us.

These reactions include accepting economically damaging "lockdowns", keeping 2-metres apart from each other, wearing  silly "face- masks"  and lining up to get dubious substances injected into our arms.

Personally, I haven't experienced any psychological problems from the virus.  It's just another not very lethal disease.

So why this absurd over-reaction to it?

[Kryptid]

You are aware of how many people have been killed by it, aren't you?

[Bored chemist]

So why this absurd over-reaction to it?

It was, for quite some while, killing more people in the UK than everything else put together.
Stopping that is not "over-reaction".

[Colin2B]

Personally, I haven't experienced any psychological problems from the virus.  It's just another not very lethal disease.

So why this absurd over-reaction to it?

Your response here indicates that you have in fact suffered some brain damage. Why else would you spread false information.

A study published in The Lancet indicates a number of brain injuries which appear to be caused by covid infections including intracranial haemorrhage; ischaemic stroke; parkinsonism; Guillain-Barré syndrome; nerve, nerve root, and plexus disorders; encephalitis; dementia; psychotic, mood, and anxiety disorders.
This is an area of ongoing study, but the virus is clearly having an effect on brain tissue.

[charles1948]

Personally, I haven't experienced any psychological problems from the virus.  It's just another not very lethal disease.

So why this absurd over-reaction to it?

Your response here indicates that you have in fact suffered some brain damage. Why else would you spread false information.

Thanks Colin.

A study published in The Lancet indicates a number of brain injuries which appear to be caused by covid infections including intracranial haemorrhage; ischaemic stroke; parkinsonism; Guillain-Barré syndrome; nerve, nerve root, and plexus disorders; encephalitis; dementia; psychotic, mood, and anxiety disorders.
This is an area of ongoing study, but the virus is clearly having an effect on brain tissue.

Thanks Colin.  I didn't know that The Lancet had done that study.  The thing I wonder about in the study, is the mention of parkinsonism.  This affliction is, as I understand it, something that comes on gradually over several years.

But Covid-19 has only been with us for about 1 year. So how can the study know that cases of Parkinsons  are caused by covid.  And not something else, entirely unrelated,  going back years ago?

[evan_au (OP)]

The isolation caused by lockdowns and social distancing has undoubtedly worsened cases of depression.
- Extroverts would have felt this acutely
- Some Introverts may have found it liberating - work at home instead of a noisy/crowded office!

Many mental health counselling services would have moved to telephone/video counselling. Whether this is more or less effective remains to be seen.

[evan_au (OP)]

Loss of smell is one of the peculiar symptoms of COVID-19 infection
- The sense of smell has a direct connection into the brain, and affects us at an emotional level - not just in food, but in social interactions and familiar places
- Loss of smell can result in eating disorders and depression.
- Even worse, in some people, the sense of smell eventually comes back, but is rewired differently, so favorite foods are now revolting. This would be rather distressing.

Clotting problems are associated with COVID-19 infection in some people, affecting the capillaries. Clotting in the brain could provoke a range of psychological problems.

Perhaps 10% of people with COVID infection get "Long COVID", a post-viral syndrome affecting many normal functions
- Many of the symptoms include loss of memory, fuzzy thinking, etc
- This may be an auto-immune problem, or maybe a disruption of the autonomic nervous system?
- Symptoms sometimes last for months - there are now cases that have persisted for a year
- A study suggests that only 40% recover after 3 months of intensive rehabilitation.
- This has resulted in loss of work in many cases.
- Many doctors see this as a psychosomatic problem.

Anecdotes that long-haul COVID symptoms that dissipated after COVID vaccination suggests that perhaps the immune system may be involved.

Listen (37 minutes); https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/covid-long-haulers/

[Colin2B]

The thing I wonder about in the study, is the mention of parkinsonism.  This affliction is, as I understand it, something that comes on gradually over several years.

But Covid-19 has only been with us for about 1 year. So how can the study know that cases of Parkinsons  are caused by covid.  And not something else, entirely unrelated,  going back years ago?

The study quotes Parkinsonism not Parkinsons disease. The former is a group of symptoms usually associated with Parkinsons disease but not necessarily directly caused by the usual disease process.
We are aware of mechanisms by which viruses can cause mental and neurological problems. One of the illnesses mentioned, Guillain-Barré syndrome, is known to be caused by the influenza virus.
@evan also mentions clotting. This does not have to be major stoke causing clots. When we talk of dementia we often think of Alzheimer's, another long term process, but a large proportion of dementia cases are due to small vessel disease - either general restrictions (furring up) or micro-clots.

Downplaying this disease is a dangerous tactic as it encourages people to ignore sensible precautions such as distancing, mask wearing, and vaccination, and that not only costs lives but can result in long term disability.

[set fair]

Google "does CoV3 enter the brain?" there's lots there.
https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awab148/6226391