Association between antidepressant and COVID-19 outcomes

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection with the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can result in serious illness leading to hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and death. Clinical deterioration typically occurs during the second week of illness. Lung damage from COVID-19 was related to an excessive inflammatory response, prompting numerous trials of immunomodulatory drugs. A potential mechanism for immune modulation may be associated with with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with high affinity for the s-1 receptor (S1R). This study test whether SSRI (in particular fluvoxamine), is associated with differential COVID-19 outcomes in psychiatric patients.