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editorial
. 2021 Jun 25;8:e25. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2021.25

Table 1.

Considerations for individuals with SMI during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Increased chance of contracting the infection

  • Worsening neuropsychiatric sequelae of the infection (delirium, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, psychosis, adjustment disorders)

  • Stress-vulnerability diathesis (relapse of psychiatric complaints)

  • Possible pharmacological interactions (more with SSRIs, TCAs, stimulants, opioids, BZDs, clozapine)

  • Reduced adherence to COVID appropriate behaviors

  • Increased biopsychosocial frailty (due to stress, fear, social distancing)

  • Impaired quality of life

  • Reduced mental healthcare visits (logistic difficulties and transportation issues during lockdown)

  • Prone to misinformation

  • Increased stigma and discrimination

  • Health inequality (healthcare access and services)

  • Specific vulnerabilities of high-risk populations (elderly, sexual minorities, low SES, migrants, homeless)

  • Dual-burden on the mental healthcare infrastructure of LMIC

  • Reduced access and coverage of vaccination

  • KAP gap related to vaccination

  • Risk of abuse and institutionalization

  • Possible long-term neuropsychiatric complications (under research)

SSRI, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; TCA, Tricyclic Antidepressants; BZD, Benzodiazepines; SES, Socioeconomic status; LMIC, Low-and-middle-income countries; KAP, Knowledge Attitude Practice.

Source: Taquet et al. (2021b), Banerjee (2020), Choi (2021), The Lancet Infectious diseases (2020), Vindegaard and Benros (2020).