Antidepressant drug prescription and incidence of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study

While antidepressant drugs (ADs) have shown some efficacy in treatment of COVID-19, their preventative potential remains unexplored. To investigate association between AD and COVID-19 incidence in the community, we analysed data from community-living, non-hospitalized adults admitted to inpatient care of the South London&Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust during the 1st wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Prescription of ADs within the period of 1 to 3 months before admission was associated with an approximately 40% decrease in positive COVID-19 test results when adjusted for socioeconomic parameters and physical health. This association was specifically observed for ADs of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. These results suggest that ADs, specifically SSRIs, may help prevent COVID-19 infection in the community. Definitive determination of AD preventative potential warrants prospective studies in the wider general population. Key pointsO_ST_ABSQuestionC_ST_ABSIs there an association between prescription of antidepressants and incidence of COVID-19 in the general population? FindingsIn this retrospective cohort study of mental health outpatients with a recent (1-3 months) antidepressant prescription, there was a statistically significant 40% decrease in positive COVID-19 tests. This association was specifically observed for the most commonly prescribed antidepressant class, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, and remained when adjusted for socioeconomic parameters and physical health. MeaningAntidepressant prescription was associated with lower incidence of COVID-19 in the community, warranting further investigation as prophylactics in prospective clinical studies.