In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study investigates the potential correlation between the increased use of antipsychotic medications and the rising incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). As psychiatric disorders surged, the consequential escalation in antipsychotic drug use raised concerns about thrombotic risks. We conducted a comprehensive literature review using PubMed, focusing on articles that intersected COVID-19, antipsychotic medication, and thrombosis. This approach allowed for a nuanced examination of the historical and recent data on antipsychotic drugs and their association with thrombotic events. Our findings reveal a notable link between the use of antipsychotic medications, particularly second-generation antipsychotics, and an increased risk of VTE, including pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. This association was evident, despite variations in study designs and populations. The study underscores the need for cautious medication management in psychiatric care, especially during pandemic conditions like COVID-19, to mitigate thrombotic risks. It advocates a personalized approach to prescribing antipsychotics, considering individual patient factors and comorbidities, to balance the benefits against potential thrombotic complications.

With multimorbidity on the rise, adverse cutaneous drug reactions are becoming a daily challenge in clinical practice. The objective evaluation of the skin lesion is crucial but hardly realized due to missing technology and guidelines. In this study, the novel Dermus SkinScanner-U, an optically guided high-frequency ultrasound imaging device, was evaluated regarding its comparability with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the pharmacological analysis of the patients’ drug therapy. A total of 40 adult patients were evaluated, all with chronic medication use and skin lesions that led to non-compliance toward the pharmacotherapy. With the ongoing aim of further improving the methodology, the first results, with two detailed patient cases, are presented here. It was concluded that in the cases evaluated, there was a significant correlation between the characteristics of the lesions observed on the optical and ultrasound image, the DLQI score, and the pharmacological analysis. The next steps include increasing the scale of the study to ultimately develop a quality-assured methodology for the correct diagnosis of skin-related adverse drug reactions and to prepare a database with the most frequently observed events.

In this review we discuss the adrenergic pathways for alpha 1 and alpha 2 receptors and the current as well as potential future medication targeting these receptors. Overall, there is ongoing research into a multitude of directions with a promising outlook for alpha 1 and alpha 2 adrenergic receptors. The alpha 1-adrenergic receptor subfamily is currently modulating only a modest number of nervous system functions due the fact, that only a relatively small number of selective commercial products are available. Chronic stress can affect the long-term depression of alpha 1 receptors. Recent studies are searching for new molecular targets which might act on these receptors. Presynaptic alpha 2 receptors play an important role in modulating release of several neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. The future of alpha 2 adrenergic receptors in clinical practice looks even more promising and versatile than that of alpha 1 adrenergic receptors. Alpha 2 adrenergic receptors show different responses, especially regarding hypertension and heart failure treatment, and current research suggests a genetic component as a cause, which is being explored further.