Prevalence of COVID-19 and Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Psychiatric In-patients in Germany in 2020: Results from a Nationwide Pilot Survey
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Prevalence of COVID-19 and Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Psychiatric In-patients in Germany in 2020: Results from a Nationwide Pilot Survey. / Mueller, Juliane K; Ahrens, Kira F; Bauer, Michael; Baune, Bernhard T; Borgwardt, Stefan; Deckert, Jürgen; Domschke, Katharina; Ellwanger, Regina; Fallgatter, Andreas; Frodl, Thomas; Gallinat, Jürgen; Gottschalk, René; Grabe, Hans J; Hasan, Alkomiet; Herpertz, Sabine C; Hurlemann, Rene; Jessen, Frank; Kambeitz, Joseph; Kircher, Tilo; Kornhuber, Johannes; Lieb, Klaus; Meyer-Lindenberg, Andreas; Rupprecht, Rainer; Scherbaum, Norbert; Schlang, Christiane; Schneider, Anja; Schomerus, Georg; Thoma, Andreas; Unterecker, Stefan; Walter, Martin; Walter, Henrik; Reif, Andreas; Reif-Leonhard, Christine.
In: PHARMACOPSYCHIATRY, Vol. 56, No. 6, 11.2023, p. 227-238.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of COVID-19 and Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Psychiatric In-patients in Germany in 2020: Results from a Nationwide Pilot Survey
AU - Mueller, Juliane K
AU - Ahrens, Kira F
AU - Bauer, Michael
AU - Baune, Bernhard T
AU - Borgwardt, Stefan
AU - Deckert, Jürgen
AU - Domschke, Katharina
AU - Ellwanger, Regina
AU - Fallgatter, Andreas
AU - Frodl, Thomas
AU - Gallinat, Jürgen
AU - Gottschalk, René
AU - Grabe, Hans J
AU - Hasan, Alkomiet
AU - Herpertz, Sabine C
AU - Hurlemann, Rene
AU - Jessen, Frank
AU - Kambeitz, Joseph
AU - Kircher, Tilo
AU - Kornhuber, Johannes
AU - Lieb, Klaus
AU - Meyer-Lindenberg, Andreas
AU - Rupprecht, Rainer
AU - Scherbaum, Norbert
AU - Schlang, Christiane
AU - Schneider, Anja
AU - Schomerus, Georg
AU - Thoma, Andreas
AU - Unterecker, Stefan
AU - Walter, Martin
AU - Walter, Henrik
AU - Reif, Andreas
AU - Reif-Leonhard, Christine
N1 - Thieme. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - INTRODUCTION: In patients with a pre-existing mental disorder, an increased risk for a first manifestation of a psychiatric disorder in COVID-19 patients, a more severe course of COVID-19 and an increased mortality have been described. Conversely, observations of lower COVID-19 incidences in psychiatric in-patients suggested protective effects of psychiatric treatment and/or psychotropic drugs against COVID-19.METHODS: A retrospective multi-center study was conducted in 24 German psychiatric university hospitals. Between April and December 2020 (the first and partly second wave of COVID-19), the effects of COVID-19 were assessed on psychiatric in-patient care, the incidence and course of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, and treatment with psychotropic drugs.RESULTS: Patients (n=36,322) were admitted to the hospitals. Mandatory SARS-CoV-2 tests before/during admission were reported by 23 hospitals (95.8%), while 18 (75%) conducted regular testing during the hospital stay. Two hundred thirty-two (0.6%) patients were tested SARS-CoV-2-positive. Thirty-seven (16%) patients were receiving medical treatment for COVID-19 at the psychiatric hospital, ten (4.3%) were transferred to an intermediate/intensive care unit, and three (1.3%) died. The most common prescription for SARS-CoV-2-positive patients was for second-generation antipsychotics (n=79, 28.2%) and antidepressants (SSRIs (n=38, 13.5%), mirtazapine (n=36, 12.9%) and SNRIs (n=29, 10.4%)).DISCUSSION: Contrary to previous studies, our results showed a low number of infections and mortality in SARS-CoV-2-positive psychiatric patients. Several preventive measures seem effective to protect this vulnerable group. Our observations are compatible with the hypothesis of a protective effect of psychotropic drugs against COVID-19 as the overall mortality and need for specific medical treatment was low.
AB - INTRODUCTION: In patients with a pre-existing mental disorder, an increased risk for a first manifestation of a psychiatric disorder in COVID-19 patients, a more severe course of COVID-19 and an increased mortality have been described. Conversely, observations of lower COVID-19 incidences in psychiatric in-patients suggested protective effects of psychiatric treatment and/or psychotropic drugs against COVID-19.METHODS: A retrospective multi-center study was conducted in 24 German psychiatric university hospitals. Between April and December 2020 (the first and partly second wave of COVID-19), the effects of COVID-19 were assessed on psychiatric in-patient care, the incidence and course of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, and treatment with psychotropic drugs.RESULTS: Patients (n=36,322) were admitted to the hospitals. Mandatory SARS-CoV-2 tests before/during admission were reported by 23 hospitals (95.8%), while 18 (75%) conducted regular testing during the hospital stay. Two hundred thirty-two (0.6%) patients were tested SARS-CoV-2-positive. Thirty-seven (16%) patients were receiving medical treatment for COVID-19 at the psychiatric hospital, ten (4.3%) were transferred to an intermediate/intensive care unit, and three (1.3%) died. The most common prescription for SARS-CoV-2-positive patients was for second-generation antipsychotics (n=79, 28.2%) and antidepressants (SSRIs (n=38, 13.5%), mirtazapine (n=36, 12.9%) and SNRIs (n=29, 10.4%)).DISCUSSION: Contrary to previous studies, our results showed a low number of infections and mortality in SARS-CoV-2-positive psychiatric patients. Several preventive measures seem effective to protect this vulnerable group. Our observations are compatible with the hypothesis of a protective effect of psychotropic drugs against COVID-19 as the overall mortality and need for specific medical treatment was low.
KW - Humans
KW - COVID-19
KW - COVID-19 Drug Treatment
KW - Prevalence
KW - Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Retrospective Studies
U2 - 10.1055/a-2177-3056
DO - 10.1055/a-2177-3056
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 37944561
VL - 56
SP - 227
EP - 238
JO - PHARMACOPSYCHIATRY
JF - PHARMACOPSYCHIATRY
SN - 0176-3679
IS - 6
ER -
