Rare condition ‘COVID psychosis’ may have contributed to LA woman going missing

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A young woman from the San Fernando Valley disappeared for two weeks and her family believes it may have been related to a diagnosis of the rare mental condition known as COVID psychosis.

Family members say for reasons they are still trying to understand how and why Hadyne Wilson, 23, ended up in the Cedars-Sinai emergency room.

She was last seen on a scooter leaving her job in Chatsworth at Vons on the night of September 29. Her father says her co-workers reported that Hadyne was acting unusual.

“Her co-workers said they noticed she was a little off. She didn’t complete the tasks she normally does,” Darren Wilson said.

Surveillance footage offered few clues.

“I think the camera coverage ends when he gets to Mason Avenue. And instead of going home, he headed north on Mason,” Darren Wilson said.

He said his daughter has no history of mental health problems. But in January, after testing positive for COVID, she was hospitalized and diagnosed with an extremely rare condition: COVID psychosis. Her symptoms included experiencing hallucinations, hearing voices and feeling paranoid.

“There were long stretches of time that she couldn’t explain,” said Darren Wilson.

“COVID, like other viruses, can sometimes be associated with inflammation of the brain,” said neurologist Dr. Charles Casassa of Loma Linda University Health. He says that brain swelling can cause a number of neurological symptoms.

“Including confusion, seizures or even psychosis. And we are still learning about the multiple ways that COVID can affect the body,” Casassa said.

Now his parents are wondering if Wilson had COVID again, which may have triggered more mental health issues. For now, a family spokesperson says she is being evaluated and cared for at the Center for Behavioral Health in Rosemead. As doctors try to determine what role the COVID psychosis may have played, the family has established a gofundme page to help with Wilson’s medical expenses.