P.0707 Suicide attempt and depression after COVID-19 vaccination: a case report

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a profound effect on all aspects of society, including mental and physical health [1]. Vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection are considered to be the most promising approach for the pandemic and are being vigorously pursued [2]. Since the outbreak began, researchers around the world have been trying to develop vaccines for COVID-19, with more than 198 vaccines currently in preclinical or clinical development phase [3]. Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) is one of the vaccine that has been in use in Turkey. It has been on the market a while now and some adverse effects are defined but many others are waiting to be discovered. This article reports a case of prolonged fatigue, depression, loss of functionality and suicide attempt after the CoronaVac vaccination. The reported patient was 72 years old female and had no background of any psychiatric disorder. The patient was admitted to the emergency service after a suicide attempt by drug overdose. After the patient's observation was completed in the emergency service, psychiatric evaluation was performed. The patient had depressive mood, loss of joy, anhedonia, fatigue, psychomotor retardation, feeling of worthlessness and recurrent suicidal thoughts nearly everyday for a two months period. She received the first dose of CoronaVac vaccination on the 24th of February in 2021. After the first injection she developed nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue and hypertension. A complete examination has been made in another hospital and any organic pathology has not been detected. Because of this symptoms, she was scared to get the second dose of vaccine. Fatigue, and other depressive symptoms increased and got worsened and she made superficial cuts with kitchen knife on the dorsal faces of both her ankles and wrists five days prior to suicide attempt. She took unknown amount of chlorpromazine that expired in 1970 to commit suicide. The patient was admitted to psychiatry clinic and after a treatment process with venlafaxine she discharged with her own will and depressive symptoms were in remission. The psychiatric background has been evaluated for the causes of depression such as recent stressor, trauma, loss of family members, life style changes or anxiety about the pandemic but any specific cause could not be found. In addition during this time the patient was not infected by COVID-19 virus. In previous studies the most common side effects caused by the CoronaVac were mild pain and redness at the injection site and slight fatigue [4]. But this study observed the participants only for 28 days, so prolonged side effects that may be caused by the CoronaVac has not been reported yet. Our patient is the first case reported that developed a fully depressive episode after CoronaVac vaccination. It may guide clinicians in establishing a linkage between prolonged fatigue and depressive symptoms in vaccinated patients. No conflict of interest