The new diagnostic criteria for apathy provide a clinical and scientific framework to increase the validity of apathy as a clinical construct. This should also help to pave the path for apathy in brain disorders to be an interventional target.

Purpose: The current COVID-19 pandemic confronts psychiatric patients and mental health services with unique and severe challenges. Methods: In order to identify these trans-national challenges across Europe, an ad-hoc survey was conducted among 23 experts, each answering for one European or aligned country. Results: A number of important themes and issues were raised for the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and mental health services, barriers to service provision and future consequences. A number of key issues were reported by colleagues across several jurisdictions, even though these were at different stages of their national epidemics. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we articulate some important learnings from the early stages of the COVID-19 European pandemic, and highlight key considerations for all countries' mental health services as the current pandemic develops and for future pandemics.

Highlights  The present paper aimed at collecting recommendations on non-pharmacological treatment (NPT) for apathy and on the role of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in this domain.  Based on the experts' opinion, NPT should be tailored to deficits, clinical objectives, and preferences of each patient. ICT may help to improve treatment personalization, increase motivation, and aid remote treatment delivery.  Further structured research is needed to determine NTP efficacy.