MENTAL COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH INFECTION

Abstract

The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was revealed in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, rapidly spread over the world and caused a global pandemic. The main clinical feature of COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory deficiency. With the accumulation of new studies, it is clear that the coronavirus causes neurological damages ranging from light (headache, anosmia) to severe acute (encephalitis, meningitis, cramps, strokes et set) in 1/3 of patients with COVID-19. In this review we describe symptoms and neurological manifestations in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, the structure of this virus, mechanisms of its penetration in cells, probable pathways of neuronal cell infection, and pathogenetic mechanisms of neurological damages. Also, we pay special attention to the beginning and development of psychological and psychiatric problems that originated from the pandemic.