SSRI Curbs COVID-19?!

According to research published in BMC Medicine, a study conducted on mental health care patients in the UK suggests that common antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may help prevent COVID-19 infection. The study found that mental health patients who had been prescribed SSRIs within the previous 90 days had a nearly 40% reduction in the likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19. The researchers also observed that a higher percentage of COVID-19-negative patients had taken antidepressant medication compared to COVID-19-positive patients. The study hints at the potential clinical benefit of SSRIs beyond their traditional use in treating anxiety and depression. Further research is needed to explore the effectiveness of SSRIs in curbing the spread of COVID-19.