In a few cases, people with no history of mental health problems have developed severe psychotic symptoms after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Jennifer Price, of Morris suburbs, believes her husband, Ben, contracted what is known as “post-COVID psychosis” before his death.
Ben Price, a beloved father of two and a farmer, died of suicide just days after being treated and released from the hospital for COVID.
“This was another level of something taking over his brain,” Jennifer Price explained.
Jennifer Price said her husband hadn’t had any mental health issues in the past, and as the days passed, she noticed a drastic change in his behavior.
“He was just really panicked and paranoia and was scared,” she said. “He kept saying I’m just so scared, I’m just so scared, and he couldn’t even tell you what he was afraid of.”
Jennifer Price thought her husband had brain fog. Doctors prescribed Ben Price anti-anxiety medication, but his condition only got worse.
“There was nothing we could do to make him relax and calm down,” Jennifer Price said. “That was heartbreaking.”
Dr. Danesh Alam, a psychiatrist with Northwestern Medicine, says “post-COVID psychosis” is rare, and as a result of reported cases, researchers are investigating how COVID affects the human brain.
Labs suggest the virus actually crosses the blood-brain barrier, and some of the changes we’re seeing [the] brains related to severe psychotic disorders are being observed, ”the doctor explained.
As more studies are completed, Jennifer Price hopes that by sharing her husband’s story, the lives of others can be saved.
“We would have done something different if we had known about this,” she told NBC 5.
Doctors say that if you notice a change in your loved one’s behavior, even if they are hospitalized for COVID-19, you should contact a doctor immediately so that symptoms can be noticed and treated sooner.