The interface of psychiatry and COVID-19: Challenges for management of psychiatric patients

Pak J Med Sci. 2020 Jul-Aug;36(5):1133-1136. doi: 10.12669/pjms.36.5.3073.

Abstract

COVID-19 is a viral infection that has multisystemic physical and psychological complications. The following paper looks at the various challenges seen while treating psychiatric patients during the COVID pandemic. There is a need for physician to be aware of the drug interactions between psychiatric medications and the medications used routinely in the management of COVID. There is also the concern of psychiatric side effects of medications used to manage COVID and medical complications caused by some side effects of psychiatric drugs. The telepsychiatry and telemedicine paradigm has made it mandatory for physicians to be vigilant of the same.

Keywords: COVID; pandemic; psychiatric medication; telemedicine; telepsychiatry.