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Simkin L, Yung P, Greig F, Perera G, Tsamakis K, Rizos E, Stewart R, Velayudhan L, Mueller C. The impact of the first UK COVID-19 lockdown on presentations with psychosis to mental health services for older adults: An electronic health records study in South London. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2022; 37:10.1002/gps.5834. [PMID: 36333839 PMCID: PMC9828419 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Social distancing restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic may have had adverse effects on older adults' mental health. Whereby the impact on mood is well-described, less is known about psychotic symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare characteristics associated with psychotic symptoms during the first UK lockdown and a pre-pandemic comparison period. METHODS In this retrospective observational study we analysed anonymised records from patients referred to mental health services for older adults in South London in the 16-week period of the UK lockdown starting in March 2020, and in the comparable pre-pandemic period in 2019. We used logistic regression models to compare the associations of different patient characteristics with increased odds of presenting with any psychotic symptom (defined as hallucinations and/or delusion), hallucinations, or delusions, during lockdown and the corresponding pre-pandemic period. RESULTS 1991 referrals were identified. There were fewer referrals during lockdown but a higher proportion of presentations with any psychotic symptom (48.7% vs. 42.8%, p = 0.018), particularly hallucinations (41.0% vs. 27.8%, p < 0.001). Patients of non-White ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-2.99) and patients with dementia (adjusted OR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.91-4.99) were more likely to be referred with psychotic symptoms during lockdown. While a weaker association between dementia and psychotic symptoms was found in the pre-COVID period (adjusted OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.19-2.03), interaction terms indicated higher odds of patients of non-White ethnicity or dementia to present with psychosis during the lockdown period. CONCLUSIONS During lockdown, referrals to mental health services for adults decreased, but contained a higher proportion with psychotic symptoms. The stronger association with psychotic symptoms in non-White ethnic groups and patients with dementia during lockdown suggests that barriers in accessing care might have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Simkin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Paul Yung
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Flora Greig
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Gayan Perera
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Konstantinos Tsamakis
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
- Second Department of PsychiatryNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens‘Attikon’ University General HospitalAthensGreece
| | - Emmanouil Rizos
- Second Department of PsychiatryNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens‘Attikon’ University General HospitalAthensGreece
| | - Robert Stewart
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Latha Velayudhan
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Christoph Mueller
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
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Watanabe S, Omran AA, Shao AS, Xue C, Zhang Z, Zhang J, Davies DL, Shao XM, Watanabe J, Liang J. Dihydromyricetin improves social isolation-induced cognitive impairments and astrocytic changes in mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5899. [PMID: 35393483 PMCID: PMC8989100 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09814-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Social isolation induces stress, anxiety, and mild cognitive impairment that could progress towards irreversible brain damage. A probable player in the mechanism of social isolation-induced anxiety is astrocytes, specialized glial cells that support proper brain function. Using a social isolation mouse model, we observed worsened cognitive and memory abilities with reductions of Object Recognition Index (ORI) in novel object recognition test and Recognition Index (RI) in novel context recognition test. Social isolation also increased astrocyte density, reduced astrocyte size with shorter branches, and reduced morphological complexity in the hippocampus. Dihydromyricetin, a flavonoid that we previously demonstrated to have anxiolytic properties, improved memory/cognition and restored astrocyte plasticity in these mice. Our study indicates astrocytic involvement in social isolation-induced cognitive impairment as well as anxiety and suggest dihydromyricetin as an early-stage intervention against anxiety, cognitive impairment, and potential permanent brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saki Watanabe
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Ave, PSC 504, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Alzahra Al Omran
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Ave, PSC 504, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Amy S Shao
- Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
| | - Chen Xue
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Ave, PSC 504, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Zeyu Zhang
- Translational Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Ave, PSC 504, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Daryl L Davies
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Ave, PSC 504, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Xuesi M Shao
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Junji Watanabe
- Translational Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Jing Liang
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Ave, PSC 504, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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