Bipolar disorders, schizophrenia: an increased risk of severe forms of Covid-19

Bipolar disorders schizophrenia an increased risk of severe forms of

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    People suffering from mental illnesses are more at risk of being contaminated by Covid-19 but also of developing a serious form. For these reasons, the FondaMental association recalls the importance of vaccination for this population.

    Fundamentala scientific cooperation foundation dedicated to the fight against mental illness, recalls the importance of vaccination against Covid-19 for people with psychiatric pathologies, in a press release published on February 8. “According to the latest data revealed by the CNAM, the vaccination rates of these populations are still too low” can we read in the document. “Only 47.5% of people with childhood-onset psychiatric disorders and 82.3% of those with a psychotic disorder now have a full vaccination schedule.”

    Vaccination is important and for good reason: Covid-19 has a greater impact on patients with psychiatric disorders. “The hypotheses to explain this excess risk are, on the one hand, thedirect action of the infection on the brain and on the other hand the immuno-inflammatory response to the infection which has a triggering effect on mental illnesses. In fact, these patients have a 5.7 to 7.6 higher risk than people without mental illness of being infected” can we read in the document which specifies that Covid patients with a severe psychiatric disorder such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia have “twice the risk of developing a severe form of the disease”.

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    Double the risk of death and hospitalization

    The FondaMental Foundation also highlights a meta-analysis published in the Lancet Psychiatry also confirming that people affected by psychiatric disorders are more at risk of serious forms of Covid. Furthermore, it indicates “that after infection with SARS-CoV-2, patients with pre-existing mental disorders are at twice the risk of mortality and hospitalization”and “people with psychotic disorders and mood disorders, as well as patients taking treatment with antipsychotics or anxiolytics, appear to be the groups most vulnerable to the risk of mortality associated with Covid-19”.

    “The Fondation Fondamental calls on the public authorities to take targeted measures to ensure maximum vaccination of these people suffering from psychiatric disorders” warns Marion Leboyer, director of the Fundamental Foundation in the press release.

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