EVIDENCE LIBRARY
COVID Psychosis Case Review Described Benzodiazepine Use Without Isolating Its Treatment Effect
A systematic review collected reports of psychosis during the pandemic. Treatment and favorable outcomes were commonly described, but the case literature could not identify a benzodiazepine-specific benefit.
A systematic review collected reports of psychosis during the pandemic. Treatment and favorable outcomes were commonly described, but the case literature could not identify a benzodiazepine-specific benefit.
The reported clinical experience
The review included fifty-seven patients across forty-seven studies. Treatment involved antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, valproate, or electroconvulsive therapy in varying combinations.
Many reported cases improved, while some retained symptoms and one death was described. Differences in diagnosis, illness course, and treatment made these observations heterogeneous.
Published cases are a selected sample
Case reports do not provide an untreated comparator or a denominator for incidence. Successful or unusual cases may be disproportionately published, and medication effects cannot readily be separated from recovery or concurrent care.
The paper cannot establish that COVID-19 caused every reported psychosis or that a benzodiazepine resolved the syndrome. An individual review should retain delirium assessment, infection severity, prior history, medication sequence, and follow-up. A frequently mentioned treatment remains part of the case narrative rather than a controlled efficacy result.
Source paper
Original analysis of the supplied journal article, identified as PMC9248300.