COVID-19 affecting treatment of schizophrenia

Wayne Macfadden MD is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, who is also certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Wayne Macfadden has worked in a variety of treatment settings, and is currently with the Spirt Lake Nation Tribe in North Dakota as their first full- time Psychiatrist.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with a variety of psychological symptoms- which can vary markedly from individual to individual. Antipsychotic medications have been the mainstay of treatment for over 50 years. However, it is widely recognized that psychosocial treatments improve patient outcomes in this condition. This may include family and social support, increasing socialization and re-socialization, social skills training, and sometimes supportive group therapies.

COVID -19, caused by the coronavirus pandemic, has affected the way in which many of these services are offered. Some programs have been temporarily discontinued, others require social distancing and the use of masks- the effects of which are unknown in these efforts to enhance, and improve socialization. Moreover, the increased use of TeleHealth, while enabling an expansion of psychiatric services, may not be as beneficial as face-to-face contact in re-socialization efforts for patients with schizophrenia. Outcome research after the pandemic has subsided may provide answers.