COVID-19 exposure and psychosis: A comparison of clinical, functional, and cognitive profiles in remitted patients with psychosis.

• Psychosis patients who were recruited before and after COVID-19 exhibited a significantly different profile. • The COVID-group experienced more stressors. • The COVID-group demonstrated less negative and general psychopathology symptoms. • The COVID-group had more impaired insights into their illness and poorer medication compliance. • The COVID-group had a worse cognitive performance. The impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on psychiatric care in remitted patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) remains unknown. This study compared the demographic, clinical, functional, and cognitive profiles of patients recruited before and during the pandemic. The results showed that COVID patients were significantly older, smokers, alcohol users, experienced more stressors, with better functioning than pre-COVID patients. The former also had fewer severe negative and general psychopathological symptoms, more impaired insight, poorer medication compliance, and worse cognitive performance. Our findings highlighted a timely need to improve awareness into the illness and treatment in FEP patients experiencing pandemic related stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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