IntroductionClozapine is the most effective antipsychotic for treatment resistant schizophrenia. In patients treated with clozapine, COVID-19 infection may result in complications including an increased risk of pneumonia, clozapine toxicity, and disruption to clozapine treatment by COVID-19 induced lymphopenia.ObjectivesWe report 5 cases of elevated clozapine levels occurring in patients with COVID-19 infection who had been previously managed for several years on stable doses.MethodsSubjects: 48 admitted patients to a long-stay psychiatric unit. COVID-19 infection confirmed by positive nasopharyngeal swab for viral ribonucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2. Hematological controls between March and April 2020.Results16 patients (33%) treated with clozapine.18 patients (37’5%) had COVID-19 infection, of which 5 (10’4%) were treated with clozapine. Results are presented in table 1. Increases in plasma clozapine levels were observed in all cases (49’38 to 307.5%). We don’t have the clozapine levels of a patient who presented a pneumonia requiring admission and treatment in the general hospital. Two cases of neutropenia were observed, of which one had to discontinue treatment with clozapine. In the other three patients the dose of clozapine was reduced and they did not present haematological or intoxication complications that required further adjustments.ConclusionsCovid-19 infection is associated with increased serum clozapine levels by probably multifactorial mechanisms (systemic infection, reduced smoking). Importance of full clinical assessment of suspected COVID-19 infection in clozapine treated patients, including assessment clozapine level, and full blood count. The general recommendation is to reduce the dose of clozapine in this patients.
IntroductionThe rate of mental illness among people with intellectual disability is at least 2.5 times higher than in the general population [1].ObjectiveTo describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of all patients with intellectual disability treated in a community mental health care center (CMH) located in a city of 120,000 inhabitants on the outskirts of Barcelona with a high poverty index.MethodsDocuments and patient records were reviewed. Clinical, sociodemographic and other treatment data of patients with intellectual disability treated at the CMH were collected.ResultsThe sample consisted of 118 patients. Mean age: 39.5 (SD: 15), 54% men. 92% single and 23.7% legally incapacitated. 46.6% never completed basic education and 44.1% completed primary school. Employment status: 14.4% unemployed, 14.4% currently active, and 50% pensioned. Patients living mainly with their family (parents:) 86%. 68.6% of patients showed aggressive behavior, but the rate of hospital psychiatric admissions was low (mean: 1.1 (SD: 2.3)). Organic comorbidity: 44.9%. Functionality measured with GAF mean: 45 (SD: 12). Level of intellectual disability was mostly mild (62%). Psychiatric diagnoses were: psychotic disorders: 49.25%, affective disorders: 6.8%, personality disorder: 3.4%, Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 3.4%, autism: 11.9% and other diagnoses: 37.3%. Patients treated with anti-psychotics: 78.8%, anti-depressants: 40.7%, and mood stabilizers: 70.5%.ConclusionsIntellectually disabled patients from our sample showed high comorbidity with psychotic disorders, were highly medicated and often exhibited aggressive behavior.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
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