Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Derivation, Expansion, Cryopreservation and Characterization of Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
08:04

Derivation, Expansion, Cryopreservation and Characterization of Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: November 19, 2020

6.7K

COVID-19 in People With Schizophrenia: Potential Mechanisms Linking Schizophrenia to Poor Prognosis

Mohapradeep Mohan1, Benjamin Ian Perry2, Ponnusamy Saravanan3,4

  • 1Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|June 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

People with schizophrenia face higher risks of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies for this vulnerable population.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • COVID-19 poses a significant global health threat, with mortality rates rising.
  • Established risk factors for severe COVID-19 include age and cardiometabolic, renal, and respiratory diseases.
  • Emerging evidence suggests individuals with schizophrenia have increased susceptibility and risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes, irrespective of age and comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of COVID-19 in patients with schizophrenia.
  • To propose potential pathophysiological mechanisms linking schizophrenia to increased COVID-19 susceptibility and adverse outcomes.
  • To highlight the need for further research to inform prevention and treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of existing literature on COVID-19 and schizophrenia.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge regarding potential biological and clinical links.
  • Identification of knowledge gaps and areas for future investigation.

Main Results:

  • Schizophrenia is associated with a heightened risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Potential mechanisms include immune dysregulation, shared genetic factors, and lifestyle influences.
  • Existing research is insufficient to fully elucidate these complex interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Elucidating the mechanisms underlying increased COVID-19 risk in schizophrenia is critical.
  • Further robust clinical and biological studies are essential.
  • Developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies for this population is a priority.

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2first episode psychosispsychosisschizophreniasevere mental illness

More Related Videos

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

15.1K
Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra05:14

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Published on: September 8, 2021

3.9K

Related Concept Videos

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
254
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders01:27

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
1.3K
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
218
Schizophrenia01:17

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those...
387
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia01:30

Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
170
Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid01:22

Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid

Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
248