ABSTRACT
Introduction: Recently, several antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics have been suggested to have favorable effects in the treatment of COVID-19. Objective(s): The aim of this systematic review was to collect evidence from preclinical and clinical studies concerning the scientific evidence for the repurposing of psychotropic drugs in COVID-19 treatment. Method(s): Two independent authors searched PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycInfo, Clinical Trial Registration Site US (ClinicalTrials. gov) databases, and reviewed the reference lists of articles for eligible articles published up to May 31st, 2021. All preclinical and clinical studies on the effect of any psychotropic drug on Sars-CoV-2 or patients with COVID-19 were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for the quality assessment of clinical studies. This systematic review adheres to the PRISMA guidelines. Result(s): 22 studies were included in the synthesis: 9 clinical studies, 9 preclinical studies, and 4 computational studies. The use of antidepressants, both SSRI and non-SSRI, was associated with a reduced risk of severe complications of COVID-19. Several antipsychotics showed an increased risk for both Sars-CoV-2 infection and severe complications during COVID-19. Conclusion(s): The current evidence supports a potential anti- SARS-CoV-2 role for several antidepressants, while the evidence on mood stabilizers or antipsychotics remains controversial. Drug repurposing proved highly successful in response to the current pandemic and psychotropic medications are widely used in clinical practice with well-known safety and tolerability profiles, showing antiviral, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties, being perfect candidates for possible treatment of COVID-19. Further research will deliver optimized and specific therapeutic tools that will increase the preparedness of health systems for possible future epidemics.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders poses several challenges, especially regarding drug interactions. METHODS: We report three representative case-scenarios on patients with psychiatric disorders and COVID-19 to provide a practical approach based on the existing literature and the clinical experience of an expert team in consultation-liaison psychiatry. CASE-CENTERED RECOMMENDATIONS: Psychopharmacological ongoing treatments should be prioritized and most doses should be reduced 25-50% of original dose if the patient receives lopinavir/ritonavir, with some exceptions including quetiapine, asenapine, olanzapine, sertraline, lamotrigine, bupropion, and methadone. If the psychopharmacological usual doses are in the low-to-median range levels, a dose change during COVID-19 drugs co-administration is not recommended, but only ECG and clinical monitoring of adverse effects and drug levels if required. Furthermore, when introducing a psychopharmacological drug, dose titration should be progressive, with ECG monitoring if cardiotoxic interactions are present. (A) In agitated delirium, olanzapine is recommended as first-line antipsychotic and quetiapine should be avoided. (B) In severe mental illness (SMI), essential treatments should be maintained. (C) In non-SMI with depressive/anxiety symptoms, psychological support should be provided and symptoms identified and treated. LIMITATIONS: Most recommendations on pharmacological interactions provide only a limited qualitative approach and quantitative recommendations are lacking. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with psychiatric disorders and COVID-19 should be managed on a personalized basis considering several clinical criteria and, should not be excluded from receiving COVID-19 treatments. Risks of pharmacological interaction are not absolute and should be contextualized, and most psychopharmacological treatments should include an ECG with special attention to QTc interval.