Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Post-COVID-19 encephalopathy is a neurological complication characterized by cognitive impairment, memory loss, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in COVID-19 survivors. Oral cenesthopathy, a rare somatic delusion characterized by unusual oral sensations without physical findings, is typically associated with affective disorders and schizophrenia. This case report describes a 73-year-old female who developed post-COVID-19 encephalopathy, presenting initially with cognitive decline, followed by major depression and oral cenesthopathy 16 months after the infection. Comprehensive investigations excluded autoimmune encephalitis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and other structural or vascular abnormalities. Treatment with Aripiprazole and Carbamazepine resulted in partial improvement, though symptom control was limited by medication side effects. This case represents a rare presentation of long COVID syndrome, highlighting the complex neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19. Further research is needed to explore the pathophysiology, treatment strategies, and long-term impacts of such manifestations.
Source: BMC Psychiatry
Authors: Ju-I Wu, Shwu-Hua Lee, Pei-Jung Chen
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
OpenAlex ID: W4409264448