Consequences of the Lockdown in Patients with Schizophrenia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 pandemic and the public health measures adopted to restrain its spread can cause or accentuate symptoms of depression and anxiety, especially in vulnerable populations, like schizophrenia patients.
METHODS: The current study evaluated the impact of the lockdown measures applied in March and April 2020 in Portugal, in a group of 40 ambulatory patients with schizophrenia from Hospital Vila Franca de Xira.
RESULTS: In this group of patients, 65% respected the lockdown measures, 32.5% had higher anxiety levels, 97.5% maintained their medication and 15% raised the dosage. Alcohol doses were higher in 42.8% of regular drinkers and tobacco doses were higher in 30.7% of smokers but there was no raise in cannabis use. A percentage of 10% of patients had urgent psychiatric consultations and 15% of patients felt the need for psychological support.
CONCLUSION: There was no significant loss of adhesion to medication and most patients complied with lockdown measures.