Increased grey matter volumes in the temporal lobe and its relationship with cognitive functioning in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by episodic mood dysregulation, although a significant portion of patients suffer persistent cognitive impairment during euthymia. Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research suggests BD patients may have accelerated brain aging, observed as lower grey matter volumes. How these neurostructural alterations are related to the cognitive profile of BD is unclear. METHODS: We aim to explore this relationship in euthymic BD patients with multimodal structural neuroimaging. A sample of 27 euthymic BD patients and 24 healthy controls (HC) underwent structural grey matter MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). BD patient's cognition was also assessed. FreeSurfer algorithms were used to obtain estimations of regional grey matter volumes. White matter pathways were reconstructed using TRACULA, and four diffusion metrics were extracted. ANCOVA models were performed to compare BD patients and HC values of regional grey matter volume and diffusion metrics. Global brain measures were also compared. Bivariate Pearson correlations were explored between significant brain results and five cognitive domains. RESULTS: Euthymic BD patients showed higher ventricular volume (F(1, 46) = 6.04; p = 0.018) and regional grey matter volumes in the left fusiform (F(1, 46) = 15.03; pFDR = 0.015) and bilateral parahippocampal gyri compared to HC (L: F(1, 46) = 12.79, pFDR = 0.025/ R: F(1, 46) = 15.25, pFDR = 0.015). Higher grey matter volumes were correlated with greater executive function (r = 0.53, p = 0.008). LIMITATIONS: We evaluated a modest sample size with concurrent pharmacological treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Higher medial temporal volumes in euthymic BD patients may be a potential signature of brain resilience and cognitive adaptation to a putative illness neuroprogression. This knowledge should be integrated into further efforts to implement imaging into BD clinical management.

Factors associated with the discrepancy between objective and subjective cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the discrepancy between objective cognitive measures and cognitive subjective complaints in a sample of euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: One hundred and sixteen participants (83 euthymic patients with BD and 33 healthy controls) were enrolled for this study. Patients were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and they also reported their subjective cognitive complaints with the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Scale (COBRA). The discrepancy between objective and subjective data was calculated using a novel methodology proposed in a previous study (Miskowiak, 2016). Statistical analyses included Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Higher number of previous depressive episodes was identified as one variable associated with the global sensitivity composite score (Beta = 0.25; t = 2.1; p = 0.04) and with the verbal learning and memory sensitivity score (Beta = 0.26; t = 2.16; p = 0.03). That is, patients with more previous depressive episodes tend to over-report cognitive complaints. In contrast, higher number of previous hospitalizations was associated with stoicism in the global total score (Beta = -0.27; t = -2.24: p = 0.029) and in the domain of attention/processing speed (Beta = -0.34; t = -2.52; p = 0.016), indicating patients with more hospitalizations tend to report less cognitive complaints. DISCUSSION: Our study identified some factors that might help to explain the discrepancy between objective and subjective cognitive measures in BD, including number of previous depressive episodes and number of previous hospitalizations. This highlights the need of the combined use of both types of cognitive measures to make an accurate assessment of cognitive dysfunctions and their effective treatment.

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome: A state-of-the-art clinical review.

Antidepressant drugs are prescribed to patients with depressive, anxiety disorders, and other conditions. Evidence about antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS) and related outcomes is sparse, although potentially burdensome in some patients. The present state-of-the-art review aims to appraise the most current evidence about ADS critically. ADS has been documented for most antidepressant drugs, although most literature focuses on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors prescribed for depression. While down-titration cannot exclude the chance of ADS, it is nonetheless warranted in the clinical setting, especially for short half-life and sedative compounds such as paroxetine. Integrative management with concurrent pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy may minimize the eventual unpleasant effects arising within the discontinuation process. In addition, patient-tailored interventions and education should be part of the discontinuation strategy. Future research must rely on broadly accepted definitions for ADS and related phenomena such as antidepressant withdrawal and shed further light on the underpinning neurobiology. Discriminating between ADS-related phenomena and relapse of depression is likewise warranted, along with a neuroscience-based nomenclature instead of a class one.

Disrupted network switching in euthymic bipolar disorder: Working memory and self-referential paradigms.

BACKGROUND: Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) frequently suffer from neurocognitive deficits that can persist during periods of clinical stability. Specifically, impairments in executive functioning such as working memory and in self-processing have been identified as the main components of the neurocognitive profile observed in euthymic BD patients. The study of the neurobiological correlates of these state-independent alterations may be a prerequisite to develop reliable biomarkers in BD. METHODS: A sample of 27 euthymic BD patients and 25 healthy participants (HC) completed working memory and self-referential functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) tasks. Activation maps obtained for each group and contrast images (i.e., 2-back > 1-back/self > control) were used for comparisons between patients and HC. RESULTS: Euthymic BD patients, in comparison to HC, showed a higher ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation during working memory, a result driven by the lack of deactivation in BD patients. In addition, euthymic BD patients displayed a greater dorsomedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation during self-reference processing. LIMITATIONS: Pharmacotherapy was described but not included as a confounder in our models. Sample size was modest. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed a lack of deactivation in the anterior default mode network (aDMN) during a working memory task, a finding consistent with prior research in BD patients, but also a higher activation in frontal regions within the central executive network (CEN) during self-processing. These results suggest that an imbalance of neural network dynamics underlying external/internal oriented cognition (the CEN and the aDMN, respectively) may be one of the first reliable biomarkers in euthymic bipolar patients.

Relationship between cognition and age at onset of first-episode psychosis: comparative study between adolescents, young adults, and adults.

Psychotic disorders typically manifest from late adolescence to early adulthood, and an earlier onset might be associated with greater symptom severity and a worse long-term prognosis. This study aimed to compare the cognitive characteristics of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) by their age at onset. We included 298 patients diagnosed with FEP and classified them as having an early onset (EOS), youth onset (YOS), or adult onset (AOS) based on age limits of ≤ 18 years (N = 61), 19-24 years (N = 121), and ≥ 25 years (N = 116), respectively. Socio-demographic and clinical variables included age at baseline, gender, socio-economic status, antipsychotic medication, DSM-IV diagnoses assessed by clinical semi-structured interview, psychotic symptom severity, and age at onset. Neuropsychological assessment included six cognitive domains: premorbid intelligence, working memory, processing speed, verbal memory, sustained attention, and executive functioning. The EOS group had lower scores than the YOS or AOS groups in global cognition, executive functioning, and sustained attention. Although the scores in the YOS group were intermediate to those in the EOS and AOS groups for most cognitive factors, no statistically significant differences were detected between the YOS and AOS groups. Age at onset results in specific patterns of cognitive interference. Of note, impairment appears to be greater with EOS samples than with either YOS or AOS samples. A longitudinal study with a larger sample size is needed to confirm our findings.

[French Expert advice on the management of valproate in childbearing and pregnant women with bipolar disorder]. / Avis d'experts français sur la prise en charge des femmes en âge de procréer et enceintes souffrant d'un trouble bipolaire traitées par valproate.

INTRODUCTION: The perinatal period is associated with high risk of relapses in women with untreated bipolar disorder (BD) and can have significant consequences on foetal and child development. Valproate is an effective mood stabilizer in BD but it is also the anticonvulsant associated to the highest risks of neurodevelopmental disorders and congenital malformations. The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) changed the conditions of use and prescription of valproate in France in 2015. Its prescription is now contraindicated (i.e., not to be prescribed) in women able to have children unless alternative treatments are ineffective or not tolerated. Moreover, valproate could only be prescribed if the protocol of a specific pregnancy prevention program is followed. METHODS: A panel of experts from the French Association for Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology (AFPBN) provided consensus-based recommendations for switching and discontinuation of valproate in women with BD. The development of these recommendations consisted of an adaptation to French clinical practice based on a European expert opinion published in 2019. The experts discussed five real-world clinical situations in light of the scientific evidence and their clinical experience (a. Stable BD patient with valproate monotherapy who is planning pregnancy, b. Stable BD patient with valproate polytherapy who is planning pregnancy, c. Unstable BD patient with frequent relapses and valproate polytherapy who is planning pregnancy, d. Stable BD patient treated with valproate and unexpected pregnancy, e. Unstable BD patient treated with valproate and unexpected pregnancy) and developed, through several rounds of exchange drafts, a French version of clinical recommendations. RESULTS: First of all, some factors need to be considered for establishing personalized practical recommendations for a safe and effective switching or discontinuation of valproate in any clinical situations: planned pregnancy or unplanned pregnancy or current pregnancy, the existence or not of a pregnancy risk minimization program and a complete treatment history. Other factors that should be considered are the predominant polarity, the severity, the stability, the comorbidities associated with BD, the beliefs toward treatments, the family situation and the preference of the patient. The modalities for switching or discontinuation of valproate in women with BD were related to the clinical situation. First-line therapeutic alternatives such as lithium, lamotrigine, quetiapine, olanzapine or aripiprazole were preferred for patients suffering from a clinically stable BD considering pregnancy or pregnant. In patients suffering from clinically unstable BD, to reach stability was considered first. A shared decision-making should be systematically implemented and the patient must be fully informed of the risks related to an in-utero exposure to valproate, and the risks of the discontinuation/switch that is considered. CONCLUSION: Although the adaptation to French practice of the recommendations from the European expert opinion highlighted some differences in the criteria taken into consideration to guide the therapeutic decision, this expert advice will guide the clinician for switching and discontinuation of valproate in BD women able to have children or pregnant.

Mental impact of Covid-19 among Spanish healthcare workers. A large longitudinal survey.

AIMS: Longitudinal data on the mental health impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in healthcare workers is limited. We estimated prevalence, incidence and persistence of probable mental disorders in a cohort of Spanish healthcare workers (Covid-19 waves 1 and 2) -and identified associated risk factors. METHODS: 8996 healthcare workers evaluated on 5 May-7 September 2020 (baseline) were invited to a second web-based survey (October-December 2020). Major depressive disorder (PHQ-8 ≥ 10), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD-7 ≥ 10), panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5 ≥ 7), and alcohol use disorder (CAGE-AID ≥ 2) were assessed. Distal (pre-pandemic) and proximal (pandemic) risk factors were included. We estimated the incidence of probable mental disorders (among those without disorders at baseline) and persistence (among those with disorders at baseline). Logistic regression of individual-level [odds ratios (OR)] and population-level (population attributable risk proportions) associations were estimated, adjusting by all distal risk factors, health care centre and time of baseline interview. RESULTS: 4809 healthcare workers participated at four months follow-up (cooperation rate = 65.7%; mean = 120 days s.d. = 22 days from baseline assessment). Follow-up prevalence of any disorder was 41.5%, (v. 45.4% at baseline, p < 0.001); incidence, 19.7% (s.e. = 1.6) and persistence, 67.7% (s.e. = 2.3). Proximal factors showing significant bivariate-adjusted associations with incidence included: work-related factors [prioritising Covid-19 patients (OR = 1.62)], stress factors [personal health-related stress (OR = 1.61)], interpersonal stress (OR = 1.53) and financial factors [significant income loss (OR = 1.37)]. Risk factors associated with persistence were largely similar. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the prevalence of probable mental disorders among Spanish healthcare workers during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was similarly high to that after the first wave. This was in good part due to the persistence of mental disorders detected at the baseline, but with a relevant incidence of about 1 in 5 of HCWs without mental disorders during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Health-related factors, work-related factors and interpersonal stress are important risks of persistence of mental disorders and of incidence of mental disorders. Adequately addressing these factors might have prevented a considerable amount of mental health impact of the pandemic among this vulnerable population. Addressing health-related stress, work-related factors and interpersonal stress might reduce the prevalence of these disorders substantially. Study registration number: NCT04556565.

Four-month incidence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among healthcare workers after the first wave of the Spain COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare workers (HCW) are at high risk for suicide, yet little is known about the onset of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) in this important segment of the population in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a multicenter, prospective cohort study of Spanish HCW active during the COVID-9 pandemic. A total of n = 4809 HCW participated at baseline (May-September 2020; i.e., just after the first wave of the pandemic) and at a four-month follow-up assessment (October-December 2020) using web-based surveys. Logistic regression assessed the individual- and population-level associations of separate proximal (pandemic) risk factors with four-month STB incidence (i.e., 30-day STB among HCW negative for 30-day STB at baseline), each time adjusting for distal (pre-pandemic) factors. STB incidence was estimated at 4.2% (SE = 0.5; n = 1 suicide attempt). Adjusted for distal factors, proximal risk factors most strongly associated with STB incidence were various sources of interpersonal stress (scaled 0-4; odds ratio [OR] range = 1.23-1.57) followed by personal health-related stress and stress related to the health of loved ones (scaled 0-4; OR range 1.30-1.32), and the perceived lack of healthcare center preparedness (scaled 0-4; OR = 1.34). Population-attributable risk proportions for these proximal risk factors were in the range 45.3-57.6%. Other significant risk factors were financial stressors (OR range 1.26-1.81), isolation/quarantine due to COVID-19 (OR = 1.53) and having changed to a specific COVID-19 related work location (OR = 1.72). Among other interventions, our findings call for healthcare systems to implement adequate conflict communication and resolution strategies and to improve family-work balance embedded in organizational justice strategies.

Long-term outcome predictors after functional remediation in patients with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Improving functioning in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the main objectives in clinical practice. Of the few psychosocial interventions that have been specifically developed to enhance the psychosocial outcome in BD, functional remediation (FR) is one which has demonstrated efficacy. The aim of this study was to examine which variables could predict improved functional outcome following the FR intervention in a sample of euthymic or subsyndromal patients with BD. METHODS: A total of 92 euthymic outpatients were included in this longitudinal study, with 62 completers. Partial correlations controlling for the functional outcome at baseline were calculated between demographic, clinical and neurocognitive variables, and functional outcome at endpoint was assessed by means of the Functioning Assessment Short Test scale. Next, a multiple regression analysis was run in order to identify potential predictors of functional outcome at 2-year follow-up, using the variables found to be statistically significant in the correlation analysis and other variables related to functioning as identified in the previous scientific literature. RESULTS: The regression model revealed that only two independent variables significantly contributed to the model (F(6,53): 4.003; p = 0.002), namely verbal memory and inhibitory control. The model accounted for 31.2% of the variance. No other demographic or clinical variable contributed to the model. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that patients with better cognitive performance at baseline, especially in terms of verbal memory and executive functions, may present better functional outcomes at long term follow-up after receiving functional remediation.

Identifying social cognition subgroups in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder: a cluster analytical approach.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with social cognition (SC) impairments even during remission periods although a large heterogeneity has been described. Our aim was to explore the existence of different profiles on SC in euthymic patients with BD, and further explore the potential impact of distinct variables on SC. METHODS: Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted using three SC domains [Theory of Mind (ToM), Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Attributional Bias (AB)]. The sample comprised of 131 individuals, 71 patients with BD and 60 healthy control subjects who were compared in terms of SC performance, demographic, clinical, and neurocognitive variables. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the effect of SC-associated risk factors. RESULTS: A two-cluster solution was identified with an adjusted-performance group (N = 48, 67.6%) and a low-performance group (N = 23, 32.4%) with mild deficits in ToM and AB domains and with moderate difficulties in EI. Patients with low SC performance were mostly males, showed lower estimated IQ, higher subthreshold depressive symptoms, longer illness duration, and poorer visual memory and attention. Low estimated IQ (OR 0.920, 95% CI 0.863-0.981), male gender (OR 5.661, 95% CI 1.473-21.762), and longer illness duration (OR 1.085, 95% CI 1.006-1.171) contributed the most to the patients clustering. The model explained up to 35% of the variance in SC performance. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed the existence of two discrete profiles of SC among BD. Nearly two-thirds of patients exhibited adjusted social cognitive abilities. Longer illness duration, male gender, and lower estimated IQ were associated with low SC performance.

Suicide-related thoughts and behavior and suicide death trends during the COVID-19 in the general population of Catalonia, Spain.

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to increase suicidal behavior. However, data available to date are inconsistent. This study examines suicidal thoughts and behaviors and suicide trends in 2020 relative to 2019 as an approximation to the impact of the pandemic on suicidal behavior and death in the general population of Catalonia, Spain. Data on suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs) and suicidal mortality were obtained from the Catalonia Suicide Risk Code (CSRC) register and the regional police, respectively. We compared the monthly crude incidence of STBs and suicide mortality rates of 2020 with those of 2019. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess changes in trends over time during the studied period. In 2020, 4,263 consultations for STBs and 555 suicide deaths were registered in Catalonia (approx. 7.5 million inhabitants). Compared to 2019, in 2020 STBs rates decreased an average of 6.3% (incidence rate ratio, IRR=0.94, 95% CI 0,90-0,98) and overall suicide death rates increased 1.2% (IRR=1.01, 95% CI 0.90-1.13). Joinpoint regression results showed a substantial decrease in STBs rates with a monthly percent change (MPC) of -22.1 (95% CI: -41.1, 2.9) from January-April 2020, followed by a similar increase from April-July 2020 (MPC=24.7, 95% CI: -5.9, 65.2). The most restrictive measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic reduced consultations for STBs, suggesting that the "stay at home" message may have discouraged people from contacting mental health services. STBs and mortality should continue to be monitored in 2021 and beyond to understand better the mid-to-long term impact of COVID-19 on suicide trends.

Thirty-day suicidal thoughts and behaviours in the Spanish adult general population during the first wave of the Spain COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB; i.e. suicidal ideation, plans or attempts) in the Spanish adult general population during the first wave of the Spain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (March-July, 2020), and to investigate the individual- and population-level impact of relevant distal and proximal STB risk factor domains. METHODS: Cross-sectional study design using data from the baseline assessment of an observational cohort study (MIND/COVID project). A nationally representative sample of 3500 non-institutionalised Spanish adults (51.5% female; mean age = 49.6 [s.d. = 17.0]) was taken using dual-frame random digit dialing, stratified for age, sex and geographical area. Professional interviewers carried out computer-assisted telephone interviews (1-30 June 2020). Thirty-day STB was assessed using modified items from the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Distal (i.e. pre-pandemic) risk factors included sociodemographic variables, number of physical health conditions and pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders; proximal (i.e. pandemic) risk factors included current mental disorders and a range of adverse events-experiences related to the pandemic. Logistic regression was used to investigate individual-level associations (odds ratios [OR]) and population-level associations (population attributable risk proportions [PARP]) between risk factors and 30-day STB. All data were weighted using post-stratification survey weights. RESULTS: Estimated prevalence of 30-day STB was 4.5% (1.8% active suicidal ideation; n = 5 [0.1%] suicide attempts). STB was 9.7% among the 34.3% of respondents with pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders, and 1.8% among the 65.7% without any pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorder. Factors significantly associated with STB were pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders (total PARP = 49.1%) and current mental disorders (total PARP = 58.4%), i.e. major depressive disorder (OR = 6.0; PARP = 39.2%), generalised anxiety disorder (OR = 5.6; PARP = 36.3%), post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 4.6; PARP = 26.6%), panic attacks (OR = 6.7; PARP = 36.6%) and alcohol/substance use disorder (OR = 3.3; PARP = 5.9%). Pandemic-related adverse events-experiences associated with STB were lack of social support, interpersonal stress, stress about personal health and about the health of loved ones (PARPs 32.7-42.6%%), and having loved ones infected with COVID-19 (OR = 1.7; PARP = 18.8%). Up to 74.1% of STB is potentially attributable to the joint effects of mental disorders and adverse events-experiences related to the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: STB at the end of the first wave of the Spain COVID-19 pandemic was high, and large proportions of STB are potentially attributable to mental disorders and adverse events-experiences related to the pandemic, including health-related stress, lack of social support and interpersonal stress. There is an urgent need to allocate resources to increase access to adequate mental healthcare, even in times of healthcare system overload. STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04556565.

Quality of care in psychiatry is related to research activity.

BACKGROUND: The top biomedical research institutions have traditionally been assumed to provide better medical treatment for their patients. However, this may not necessarily be the case. Low-to-moderate negative associations between research activity and the quality-of-care provided by clinical departments have been described. We aimed to examine this relationship in the psychiatric units of the largest hospitals in Spain. METHODS: Scientific publications for 50 hospitals were retrieved from the Web of Science (2006-2015), and quality of mental healthcare data were gathered from Spanish National Health System records (2008-2014). Spearman-rank correlation analyses (adjusting for number of beds and population) were used to examine the associations between research data and quality-of-care outcomes in psychiatry. Stepwise regression models were built in order to determine the predictive value of research productivity for healthcare outcomes. RESULTS: We found a positive association between research activity indicators (i.e., number of publications, number of citations, cumulative impact factor, and institutional H-index) and better quality-of-care outcomes in psychiatry (i.e., number of readmissions, transfers, and discharges from hospital). In particular, a higher research activity predicted a lower level of readmissions for individuals with psychoses (p = 0.025; R = 0.317), explaining 8.2% of the variance when other factors were accounted for. CONCLUSIONS: Higher research activity is associated with better quality of mental healthcare in psychiatry. Our results can inform decision-making in clinical and research management settings in order to determine the most appropriate quality measures of the impact of research on the prognosis of individuals with psychiatric conditions.

The usefulness of Olanzapine plasma concentrations in monitoring treatment efficacy and metabolic disturbances in first-episode psychosis.

INTRODUCTION: The role of Olanzapine therapeutic drug monitoring is controversial. The present study explores the associations of Olanzapine plasma concentrations with clinical response and metabolic side effects in first episode psychosis (FEP) after 2 months of treatment. METHODS: Forty-seven patients were included. Improvement in clinical symptomatology was assessed using the PANSS. Metabolic assessment included weight, blood pressure, waist circumference, blood glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides. RESULTS: The Olanzapine plasma concentrations after 2 months of treatment were positively correlated with weight gain (r = 0.49, p = 0.003), and a concentration > 23.28 ng/mL was identified as a positive predictor of weight gain (≥ 7%). The Olanzapine concentration to dose (C/D) ratio was positively correlated with the percentage of improvement in the total PANSS (r = 0.46, p = 0.004), and a C/D ratio > 2.12 was identified as a positive predictor of a good response (percentage of improvement > 30%) after 2 months of treatment. We also identified several factors that could alter Olanzapine pharmacokinetics: gender (p = 0.03), diagnosis (p = 0.05), smoking habit (p = 0.05), and co-medications such as valproic acid (p = 0.05) and anxiolytics (p = 0.01). DISCUSSION: In conclusion, our results suggest that therapeutic drug monitoring of Olanzapine could be helpful to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and metabolic dysfunction in FEP patients treated with Olanzapine.

COVID-19 inpatients with psychiatric disorders: Real-world clinical recommendations from an expert team in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

BACKGROUND: The management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders poses several challenges, especially regarding drug interactions. METHODS: We report three representative case-scenarios on patients with psychiatric disorders and COVID-19 to provide a practical approach based on the existing literature and the clinical experience of an expert team in consultation-liaison psychiatry. CASE-CENTERED RECOMMENDATIONS: Psychopharmacological ongoing treatments should be prioritized and most doses should be reduced 25-50% of original dose if the patient receives lopinavir/ritonavir, with some exceptions including quetiapine, asenapine, olanzapine, sertraline, lamotrigine, bupropion, and methadone. If the psychopharmacological usual doses are in the low-to-median range levels, a dose change during COVID-19 drugs co-administration is not recommended, but only ECG and clinical monitoring of adverse effects and drug levels if required. Furthermore, when introducing a psychopharmacological drug, dose titration should be progressive, with ECG monitoring if cardiotoxic interactions are present. (A) In agitated delirium, olanzapine is recommended as first-line antipsychotic and quetiapine should be avoided. (B) In severe mental illness (SMI), essential treatments should be maintained. (C) In non-SMI with depressive/anxiety symptoms, psychological support should be provided and symptoms identified and treated. LIMITATIONS: Most recommendations on pharmacological interactions provide only a limited qualitative approach and quantitative recommendations are lacking. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with psychiatric disorders and COVID-19 should be managed on a personalized basis considering several clinical criteria and, should not be excluded from receiving COVID-19 treatments. Risks of pharmacological interaction are not absolute and should be contextualized, and most psychopharmacological treatments should include an ECG with special attention to QTc interval.