Effect of COVID-19 and sociocultural milieu on the psychopathology of mental health disorders: A hospital-based study

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has posed a remarkable threat to mental health all around the world. This pandemic has increased the incidence of common as well as severe mental illness (SMI) all around the world. Materials and Methods: We report 10 cases presenting to the psychiatric outpatient department (OPD) of Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, from August to October 2020. They were either referred by other departments (3 patients) or came primarily to psychiatric OPD (7). Results: Five out of these 10 cases presented with predominant psychotic features; 3 cases had predominant obsessive–compulsive features; and 1 case was of dissociative trance possession. Conclusion: COVID-19 can affect the psychopathology of both types of patients either with preexisting mental illness as well as new-onset SMI.

Keywords

• bipolar affective disorder
• covid-19
• dissociative trance possession
• obsessive compulsive disorder
• psychosis
• suicide
• worsening of preexisting mental health