[Influence of psychiatric diseases and psychiatric medication to the severity of clinical outcome of COVID-19].

Abstract

Initially, it had been assumed that in cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection comorbidity with psychiatric disorders worsens clinical outcomes. This was attributed to patients' poor overall health conditions, concomitant illnesses and unhealthy lifestyles. However, only schizophrenia is in a statistically significant correlation with very serious conditions leading to death, possibly as a result of underlying immune dysfunctions. Clozapine (an antipsychotic used in therapy of treatment resistant schizophrenia) seems to decrease the likelihood of recovery in COVID-19 patients, however admi nistration of antidepressant medications appears to increase it. It has also been justified that among these antidepressant drugs, fluvoxamin shows to have an effect in inhibiting cytokine storms and reducing the severity of the COVID-19 infection. Most recent data suggest that the well-known antiviral effect of lithium is also present in patients with COVID-19 infection.