By recognizing that severe mental illness is a major condition associated with an increased risk of COVID-19, the CDC will save lives, Saul Levin, MD, executive and medical director of the American Psychiatric Association, said in a press release. 28, 2021 — The CDC says people with certain mental illnesses may be at increased risk for a more severe form of COVID-19, which can lead to hospitalization, placement in an intensive care unit or death. The latest addition to the list of COVID-19 people with certain disorders, mood disorders joins 18 other conditions or behaviors that increase risk. The agency added mental disorders to its website, which lists conditions that put people at increased risk for the more serious disease, COVID-19. A study published in January in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 when other factors such as other medical conditions, age, race and gender are taken into account. The CDC advises anyone who is at increased risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19 to work with their health care providers to monitor their condition closely. Two studies published this year confirm the link between mood disorders and an increased risk of severe COVID-19. The joint statement notes that schizophrenia, in particular, is the second most important risk factor for developing severe COVID-19 after age. In another study, also published in July in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, researchers combined results from 21 studies of people with mood disorders. The leaders of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and 14 other mental health organizations praised the CDC. This review and analysis also shows the risk of hospitalization and death among people infected with the coronavirus during the pandemic. The list ranges from cancer to tuberculosis and includes people who smoke, are overweight or obese, pregnant or immunocompetent. Press release, American Psychiatric Association, Oct. 20, 2021. Article Monoclonal antibodies vs.