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Background: Older patients with mental disorders are particularly likely to be affected by negative consequences of the infection control measures that have been implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic., Material and Method: A questionnaire survey was sent to 18 departments of geriatric psychiatry from all four health regions in Norway., Results: Altogether 83 therapists from various occupational groups responded, with representatives from all the health regions. Almost one-half (45.8 %) reported an exacerbation of patients' mental condition to a large or very large degree due to social isolation, and an equal proportion (48.2 %) reported that normal follow-up was limited. The contact between the specialist and primary health services was reduced, and 15.6 % reported that patients had failed to receive the necessary somatic medical assistance to a large or very large degree., Interpretation: The service for older patients with mental disorders in the specialist health service was reduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, while coordination with the primary health service was also curtailed, and many patients deteriorated mentally as a result of the infection control measures. Collaboration between the specialist and primary health services may be an important focus area for this patient group.

Background: Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects several brain functions. MRI technology has enabled in vivo studies of brain anatomy in patients with schizophrenia aimed at understanding more about the disorder., Method: This article is based on a search in PubMed on «schizophrenia MRI» and on the authors' own research and experience. We included structural MRI studies, carried out on humans, written in English. Here we present a selection of studies that we believe are representative of the field., Results: In patients with schizophrenia, MR imaging shows a smaller total brain volume and enlarged ventricles. Specific subcortical regions are affected, with reduced hippocampal and thalamic volumes, and an increase in the volume of the globus pallidus. In the cortex can be seen changes in folding patterns and a reduction in cortical volume and thickness, most pronounced in the frontal and temporal lobes. These findings are at group level--there is a high degree of overlap between sick and healthy individuals, and the effect sizes are medium to small. Several of the changes are present at onset of the disorder; this supports the theory that schizophrenia may be related to abnormal neurodevelopment. Longitudinal anatomical changes are reported, but it is uncertain what these changes represent., Interpretation: The research literature shows that schizophrenia has neuroanatomical correlates that can be seen at group level by studying MR images. Structural MRI cannot currently be used to identify schizophrenia at the level of the individual.