Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Electroencephalographic Assessment in Disorders of Consciousness
04:04

Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Electroencephalographic Assessment in Disorders of Consciousness

Published on: July 11, 2025

801

COVID-19 vaccination for people with severe mental illness: why, what, and how?

Victor Mazereel1, Kristof Van Assche2, Johan Detraux3

  • 1Center for Clinical Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurosciences, and University Psychiatric Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

The Lancet. Psychiatry
|February 6, 2021
PubMed

Insights

People with severe mental illness face higher risks from COVID-19. Prioritizing this group for vaccination is crucial, addressing their specific needs and potential barriers to ensure effective vaccine program implementation.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Psychiatry
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Severe mental illness (SMI) is linked to increased severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection risk.
  • Individuals with SMI experience higher COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the heightened risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes in individuals with SMI.
  • To examine the impact of SMI and psychotropic medications on vaccine response.
  • To explore attitudes towards vaccination and identify barriers and solutions for efficient vaccination programs in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on COVID-19 outcomes in SMI populations.
  • Analysis of factors influencing vaccination response, including psychotropic medication effects.
  • Discussion of patient attitudes, logistical challenges, and potential strategies for vaccine rollout.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with SMI are a vulnerable group requiring prioritized COVID-19 vaccination.
  • Psychotropic medications may influence immune response to vaccines, necessitating further investigation.
  • Attitudes towards vaccination vary, with potential barriers including access, trust, and information.

Conclusions:

  • Prioritization of people with SMI in vaccine allocation is essential due to their elevated COVID-19 risks.
  • Addressing specific barriers and tailoring vaccination strategies are critical for successful implementation in this population.
  • Further research is needed on vaccine efficacy and safety in SMI patients and those on psychotropic medications.

More Related Videos

Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills10:32

Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills

Published on: April 23, 2014

18.8K
Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack07:31

Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack

Published on: May 15, 2020

7.4K

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
49.2K
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy01:26

Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy

Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
316
Bipolar Disorder01:30

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
306
Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview01:28

Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview

The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic...
616
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
2.8K
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
32.3K