The effectiveness of risperidone on PANSS score and IL-6 in confirmed COVID-19 schizophrenic patients

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the efficacy of risperidone on PANSS scores and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in schizophrenia patients with confirmed COVID-19. The study type was analytical observational, with a prospective cohort design. The subjects included inpatient Schizophrenia patients with and without COVID-19, mild-moderate and asymptomatic COVID-19, and schizophrenic patients without COVID-19 who were hospitalized and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, for a total of 22 subjects in each group. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Elisa Interleukin 6 (IL-6) serum were sampled consecutively for this study. In the positive covid-19 group, the Mean IL-6 Post was significantly lower than Pre (23.0 vs. 26.1, p<0.001), while in the control group, the Mean IL-6 Post (four weeks) was significantly lower than Pre (baseline), with 19.3 vs. 21.0 (p<0.001). Serum IL-6 levels appeared to be an effective prognostic biomarker in COVID-19 patients. The 35 pg/mL cut-off point could distinguish mild-moderate patients from more severe ones. We discovered that schizophrenia patients with verified positive COVID-19 received COVID-19 therapy in the form of a combination of antipsychotic and antivirals had IL-6 levels lower than 35 pg/mL, indicating the role of antipsychotic (risperidone) and antiviral in reducing IL-6 levels.