Use of Psychotropics in COVID-19: Another Anti-inflammatory Pathway

Abstract

Abstract: The emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has significantly impacted the world's population, disrupting healthcare systems around the globe and leading to human and material losses. While different vaccines have been approved in record time, there continues to be a high number of daily new cases, and patients face a wide range of presentations of the disease, from asymptomatic to potentially fatal. Therefore, the search for therapeutic agents that can aid in the management and control of the disease has become one of the main goals for researchers and clinicians. As an inflammatory disease, targets for the treatment of COVID-19 have largely involved the immune system. Inflammation has also been associated with mental health disorders, and studies have shown the potential involvement of inflammatory pathways in the pathophysiology of depression. As a consequence, the hypothesis of using antidepressants and other psychotropics for the treatment of COVID-19 has emerged. In this review, we aim to summarize the molecular pathways that could be involved as well as the emergent evidence that has been reported by studies performed since the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. While it has been observed that there are potential therapeutic pathways for the use of antidepressants in the treatment of COVID-19, additional studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of psychotropics in this disease.