Scientists: Patients With Psychosis With COVID-19 Are A Special Risk Group

Scientists: patients with psychosis with COVID-19 are a special risk group

The new study also found that coronavirus and severe stress can trigger the first cases of psychosis.

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A team of scientists from The National Center of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and La Trobe University in Melbourne reviewed current epidemiological and pandemic research to assess the potential impact of COVID-19 on people with psychosis. … They published their findings in the journal Schizophrenia Research.

To conduct the study, the scientists examined data from various sources on infected patients who were diagnosed with mental illness - for example, the first episode of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder. They also analyzed studies over the past 20 years on the impact on people with mental disorders of major outbreaks of infections such as MERS, SARS, swine flu, SARS.

Scientists have found that early cases of psychosis in COVID-19 patients range from 0.9% to 4%. In addition, more and more cases of psychosis are recorded among elderly patients. The disease was provoked not only by viral exposure and treatment methods, but also by severe psychosocial stress. The clinical management of these patients was particularly difficult, the scientists emphasize.

“COVID-19 is a very stressful experience for everyone, but especially for people with mental health problems. We know that psychosis and its early episodes are usually caused by severe psychosocial stress. Isolation and the need to stay in a difficult family situation can create additional stress,”says review co-author Dr. Ellie Brown. She also noted that this group of people is especially vulnerable in a pandemic and its needs are often ignored.

Another study author, Professor Richard Gray of the University of La Trobe, pointed out that people with psychosis have a harder time following the necessary preventive measures than others. Therefore, it is necessary to develop specific recommendations to reduce the risk of infection and spread of infection in this group.

“This group probably needs more support in terms of isolation, social distancing and handwashing. It is the doctors who should now think about how to help these people,”said Professor Gray.

Earlier, a group of scientists from the University of California (University of California) announced that the new coronavirus may have a damaging effect on the brain. It is currently unknown whether the coronavirus is more damaging to the nervous system than severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome. But the potential danger of a "flurry" of neurological consequences of infection is enormous, given the scale of the pandemic, the researchers said.