Closed-loop management strategies for patients with severe mental disorder complicated with COVID-19 infection

Abstract

With the fluctuating condition of the COVID-19 epidemic， the current findings remain unclear about the preventive measures and coping strategies for patients with severe mental disorders at the nodes of the transmission chain. Past experience in prevention and control has shown that establishing an effective system for emerging infectious disease prevention and control and establishing transitional wards in specialist mental healthcare institutions play a significant role in reducing the risk of epidemic transmission. However， there is no formulated strategy for the management of patients with severe mental disorders and COVID-19 infection who have recurrent or worsened mental symptoms during the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 and are unable to cooperate with the treatment in Fangcang shelter hospitals or infectious wards. Based on the field research in the front line of the epidemic prevention， this paper discusses the management strategies of patients with severe mental disorders and COVID-19 infection in the context of the practical difficulties in managing patients with severe mental disorders and COVID-19 infection， emergency management strategies， protective conditions for front-line psychiatric medical staff and the legal basis for the management of patients with severe mental disorders and COVID-19 infection in emergency situations.

Keywords

• severe mental disorder
• novel coronavirus
• closed-loop management strategies