Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for people with bipolar disorders: A scoping review

Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among youth with bipolar disorder spectrum disorders and their caregivers

BACKGROUND

Little is known about rates of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among youth with bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD). As such, the aim of this study is to assess rates and predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among youth with BSD and their caregivers in the United States.

METHODS

Youth and their main caregiver were recruited from a large pragmatic study cohort Youth who were aged 8-22 at the time of this data collection, had a bipolar-spectrum disorder diagnosis, had overweight or obesity, and were treated with a second-generation antipsychotic were invited to participate in an online survey and interview assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

A total of 453 surveys and 341 interviews were completed 07/2021-05/2022 by youth and their caregivers. Sixty-seven percent of caregivers and 63 % of youth reported receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine uptake rates among youth and caregivers were highly correlated. Predictors of vaccine uptake among youth were older age and living in the Northeast Region of the United States. Predictors of caregiver vaccine uptake were male sex, higher annual household income and not having to quarantine due to COVID-19.

LIMITATIONS

The sample was small and not a full representation of a population with bipolar-spectrum disorders therefore, the results may not be generalizable. The study design and statistical method do not allow for causal inferences to be made.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may aid in targeting interventions to maximize COVID-19 and other vaccine uptake in youth with bipolar disorders and their families.

Understanding the Relationship Between User Game Preferences and Depressive Symptoms: A Pilot Study

Objective: Following the initial measures taken to manage the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health conditions have become a critical concern. Mental health has become a foremost priority not only for health care providers but also for many other organizations, such as educational institutions, companies, and government agencies. A significant proportion of the Australian population having experienced mental disorders highlights the need for effective interventions. Those with pre-existing mental health issues experienced particularly pronounced effects. Among these challenges, advancements in technology offer new possibilities for mental health support. Videogames have shown effectiveness in mitigating symptoms of depression. Previous research has shown that game interface preferences correlate with players' emotional responses. This study aims to use MoodJumper, a game we designed, developed, and evaluated to examine the choice of game preferences in individuals with depressive symptoms. Materials and Methods: A pilot study was carried out after obtaining the Human Ethics committee's approval (n = 20). The participants were asked to fill out a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) questionnaire. They then played with the MoodJumper game for 20-30 minutes. Upon completing the game session, they were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their experience. Results: The results indicate a nonsignificant correlation between music preference, the direction of movement, and depressive symptoms meaning no significant relationship was found between depressive symptoms and chosen settings. However, a significant negative correlation was found between decision-making ability regarding game preferences and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores showing the difficulty of choosing preferred settings when having depressive symptoms. Conclusion: This contribution paves the way for designing and evaluating more impactful game experiences for individuals with mental health challenges.

Increased antipsychotic drug concentration in hospitalized patients with mental disorders following COVID-19 infection: a call for attention

Purpose

Examine the alterations in antipsychotic concentrations following coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection among hospitalized patients with mental disorders and conduct an analysis of the factors influencing these changes.

Methods

Data were collected from inpatients at Beijing Huilongguan Hospital between December 12, 2022, and January 11, 2023, pre- and post-COVID-19. Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, 329 inpatients with mental disorders were included (3 with incomplete data excluded). Primary outcomes assessed changes in antipsychotic concentrations pre- and post-COVID-19, while secondary outcomes examined factors linked to concentration increases and antipsychotic dose adjustments.

Results

Clozapine (P < 0.001), aripiprazole (P < 0.001), quetiapine (P = 0.005), olanzapine (P < 0.001), risperidone (P < 0.001), and paliperidone (P < 0.001) concentrations increased post-COVID-19 in patients with mental disorders. Notably, clozapine concentration surpassing pre-infection levels was highest. Clozapine users were more likely to adjust their dose (50.4%) compared to olanzapine (17.5%) and other antipsychotics. Moreover, traditional Chinese patent medicines and antibiotics during COVID-19 infection were associated with antipsychotic reduction or withdrawal (OR = 2.06, P = 0.0247; OR = 7.53, P = 0.0024, respectively).

Conclusion

Antipsychotic concentrations in hospitalized patients with mental disorders increased after COVID-19 infection, that may be related not only to COVID-19, but also to the use of Chinese patent medicines during infection. The pre-infection concentration and types of antipsychotics, patient's gender, and combination of traditional Chinese medicine or antibiotics, were factors found to correlate with increased drug concentrations and necessitate dose adjustments.

Harmonizing early intervention strategies: scoping review of clinical high risk for psychosis and borderline personality disorder

Aims

To map studies assessing both clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) in clinical samples, focusing on clinical/research/preventive paradigms and proposing informed research recommendations.

Methods

We conducted a PRISMA-ScR/JBI-compliant scoping review (protocol: https://osf.io/8mz7a) of primary research studies (cross-sectional/longitudinal designs) using valid measures/criteria to assess CHR-P and BPD (threshold/subthreshold) in clinical samples, reporting on CHR-P/psychotic symptoms and personality disorder(s) in the title/abstract/keywords, identified in Web of Science/PubMed/(EBSCO)PsycINFO until 23/08/2023.

Results

33 studies were included and categorized into four themes reflecting their respective clinical/research/preventive paradigm: (i) BPD as a comorbidity in CHR-P youth (k = 20), emphasizing early detection and intervention in psychosis; (ii) attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS) as a comorbidity among BPD inpatients (k = 2), with a focus on hospitalized adolescents/young adults admitted for non-psychotic mental disorders; (iii) mixed samples (k = 7), including descriptions of early intervention services and referral pathways; (iv) transdiagnostic approaches (k = 4) highlighting "clinical high at risk mental state" (CHARMS) criteria to identify a pluripotent risk state for severe mental disorders.

Conclusion

The scoping review reveals diverse approaches to clinical care for CHR-P and BPD, with no unified treatment strategies. Recommendations for future research should focus on: (i) exploring referral pathways across early intervention clinics to promote timely intervention; (ii) enhancing early detection strategies in innovative settings such as emergency departments; (iii) improving mental health literacy to facilitate help-seeking behaviors; (iv) analysing comorbid disorders as complex systems to better understand and target early psychopathology; (v) investigating prospective risk for BPD; (vi) developing transdiagnostic interventions; (vii) engaging youth with lived experience of comorbidity to gain insight on their subjective experience; (viii) understanding caregiver burden to craft family-focused interventions; (ix) expanding research in underrepresented regions such as Africa and Asia, and; (x) evaluating the cost-effectiveness of early interventions to determine scalability across different countries.

Systematic Review Registration

https://osf.io/8mz7a.

Can we predict a "tsunami"? Symptomatic and syndromal density, mood instability and treatment intensity in people with bipolar disorders under a strict and long lockdown

BACKGROUND

Converging evidence supports the involvement of circadian rhythm disturbances in the course and morbidity of bipolar disorders (BD). During 2020, lockdown measures were introduced worldwide to contain the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, chronobiological rhythms were critically disrupted and illness outcomes were expected to worsen. The current study aimed to explore changes in morbidity among BD patients living under lockdown.

METHODS

Ninety BD outpatients under naturalistic treatment conditions were followed from March to September 2020 using a mood chart technique. Different treatment and illness variables, including mood instability, were assessed and compared with the outcomes obtained during the same 28-week period in 2019.

RESULTS

For most clinical variables, no significant differences were observed between time periods. A slight decrease was found in symptom intensity (from 15.19 ± 20.62 to 10.34 ± 15.79, FDR-adjusted p = 0.04) and in the number of depressive episodes (from 0.39 ± 0.74 to 0.22 ± 0.63, FDR-adjusted p = 0.03), whereas the intensity of pharmacological treatment remained unchanged. Previous illness course predicted mood outcomes during the confinement.

LIMITATIONS

Follow-up periods were relatively short. Further, actigraphy or other methods capable of ensuring significant changes in physical activity were not used.

CONCLUSIONS

In line with other studies, our findings show no worsening in the clinical morbidity of BD patients during lockdown. This conspicuous contrast between our initial predictions and the observed findings highlights the fact that we are still far from being able to provide accurate predictive models for BD.

Lower risk of hospitalisation for depression following hospitalisation for COVID-19 versus for another reason

INTRODUCTION

Although hospitalisation for COVID-19 is associated with a higher post-discharge risk of mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), this risk has not been compared to that following hospitalisation for a reason other than COVID-19.

METHODS

Using data from France's National Health Data System (SNDS) database, we compared patients hospitalised for mood disorders in the 12 months following COVID-19/another reason hospitalisation.

RESULTS

96,313 adult individuals were hospitalised for COVID-19, and 2,979,775 were hospitalised for another reason. In the 12 months post-discharge, 110,976 (3.83 %) patients were hospitalised for mood disorders. In unadjusted analyses, patients initially hospitalised for COVID-19 (versus another reason) were more likely to be subsequently hospitalised for a mood disorder (4.27 % versus 3.82 % versus, respectively, p < 0.0001). These patients were also more likely to have a history of mood disorders, especially depressive disorders (6.45 % versus 5.77 %, respectively, p < 0.0001). Women, older age, lower social deprivation, a history of mood disorders, longer initial hospitalisation (COVID-19 or other), and a higher level of clinical care during initial hospitalisation were all significantly associated with the risk of subsequent hospitalisation for MDD and BD. In contrast, after adjusting for all these factors, persons initially hospitalised for COVID-19 were less likely to be subsequently hospitalised for MDD (OR = 0.902 [0.870-0.935]; p < 0.0001). No difference between both groups was observed for BD.

LIMITATIONS

Other reasons were not separately studied.

CONCLUSIONS

After adjusting for confounding factors, initial hospitalisation for COVID-19 versus for another reason was associated with a lower risk of hospitalisation for a mood disorder.

Identification of the shared molecular mechanisms between major depressive disorder and COVID-19 from postmortem brain transcriptome analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of major depressive disorder (MDD) and COVID-19, and on this basis, diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic drugs are further explored.

METHODS

Differential gene expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were employed to identify common key genes involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and MDD. Correlations with clinical features were explored. Detailed mechanisms were further investigated through protein interaction networks, GSEA, and immune cell infiltration analysis. Finally, Enrichr's Drug Signature Database and Coremine Medical were used to predict the potential drugs associated with key genes.

RESULTS

The study identified 18 genes involved in both COVID-19 and MDD. Four key genes (MBP, CYP4B1, ERMN, and SLC26A7) were selected based on clinical relevance. A multi-gene prediction model showed good diagnostic efficiency for the two diseases: AUC of 0.852 for COVID-19 and 0.915 for MDD. GO and GSEA analyses identified specific biological functions and pathways associated with key genes in COVID-19 (axon guidance, metabolism, stress response) and MDD (neuron ensheathment, biosynthesis, glutamatergic neuron differentiation). The key genes also affected immune infiltration. Potential therapeutic drugs, including small molecules and traditional Chinese medicines, targeting these genes were identified.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insights into the complex biological mechanisms underlying COVID-19 and MDD, develops an effective diagnostic model, and predicts potential therapeutic drugs, which may contribute to the prevention and treatment of these two prevalent diseases.

COVID-19 Modifications in Public Home- and Community-Based Services for Children with Mental Health Needs

Eleven states offer 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waivers to organize and fund programs that provide in-home and community support services to address the unique needs of children and youth with complex mental health concerns and their families. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic-imposed restrictions on community movement and school engagement were enacted, these children and youth lost in-person access to needed supports through school-based programs and professional community providers. The well documented mental health impacts of the pandemic on children and youth necessitates understanding how behavioral health programs and policies were adapted to the constraints of pandemic life for this uniquely at-risk population. This study examines and characterizes trends in modifications made to these programs. Appendix K applications amending HCBS waiver programs targeting children with serious emotional disturbances (SED) were collected from the Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) website. In total, 33 applications from 10 states were included in the study. Utilizing a policy mapping approach, applications were coded by hand comparing text from elements in the applications across all 10 states. A summary of program changes reported in applications was created and changes were tracked over the course of the federal public health emergency. States modified programs by adding services for waiver participants, changing the service settings allowed, removing service limit restrictions, and offering electronic/remote service delivery. All states also issued measures to either expand or retain their provider workforce, adding family members as providers, modifying experience requirements, and offering financial incentives via increased payment rates or retainer payments. Modifications to mental health assessment processes ranged from changing the evaluation tools or documentation requirements, extending deadlines, and allowing for remote evaluations. Service plan development processes were adapted by allowing virtual service plan development meetings, allowing participants or representatives to electronically sign plans of care, and permitting verbal consent to begin receiving services. Documenting programmatic adjustments provides a context for further research to understand the experiences of youth, families, and providers in navigating these changes and the relative success or failures of these policies.

Symptom Exacerbations of Patients Attending a Community Mental Health Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical conditions of the patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) in a community mental health center (CMHC).

METHOD

Symptom exacerbations, emergency service admissions, drug dose increases, additional medication prescriptions, and psychiatric hospitalizations of patients with BD and SSD in the CMHC were evaluated retrospectively. The data from the 1-year prior, 6-months prior, 6-months after the onset and 1-year after the onset of the pandemic were compared. Hospital and CMHC medical records were used for outcomes. Personal and Social Performance (PSP) Scale was used to assess the level of functioning.

RESULTS

107 patients with the diagnosis of BD and 121 patients with the diagnosis of SSD were recruited. In the BD group, there was increase in the frequency of symptom exacerbations (p=0.001) and additional medication prescriptions or increased dose (p=0.007), with decrease in emergency service admissions (p=0.039) during the pandemic. In the patients with SSD, the number of patients with exacerbation of symptoms (p=0.001) and with increased dose or additional medication prescriptions (p=0.004) were higher during the pandemic. There was no increase in the rate of hospitalized patients in the period of first 6 months and first one year. Symptom exacerbations were more frequent in the SSD group with Covid (+) in family (p=0.016).

CONCLUSION

The fact that the hospitalization rates remained the same despite an increase in the acute exacerbations provides info on the role of CMHCs and how mental health system functioned during the pandemic.

The relationship between dysfunctional attitudes, maladaptive perfectionism, metacognition and symptoms of mania and depression in bipolar disorder: The role of self-compassion as a mediating factor

BACKGROUND

Maladaptive cognitions appear to be associated with the severity of mood symptoms in bipolar disorder (BD), but findings are mixed and generally cross-sectional in design.

METHOD

This study (n = 331) explored the associations between maladaptive cognitions and mood symptoms in BD over time (3 months), and the potential mediating effect of self-compassion cross-sectionally. Dysfunctional attitudes, maladaptive perfectionism and maladaptive metacognitions were explored separately with depressive and manic symptoms, and with current mood state in BD.

RESULTS

The results showed maladaptive metacognitions to be the only significant predictor of depression at 3-month follow-up (β = 0.31, p < .001), with no relationship to mania over time. Cross-sectionally, self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between all maladaptive cognitions and depression, with higher dysfunctional cognitions and lower self-compassion predicting increased severity of depressive symptoms. Only the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and mania was partially mediated by self-compassion, however, the relationship was weak and suggestive that higher self-compassion predicted increased mania.

LIMITATIONS

The study duration limited the possible analysis. Future longitudinal research is needed. Also, the study sample was not representative of the clinical population, making results less generalisable. Additionally, limited significant findings regarding manic symptoms supports the need for further research into active cognitions during this phase of BD.

CONCLUSIONS

Maladaptive metacognitions were predictive of future depression severity, therefore, further exploration of metacognitive therapy for BD should be explored. Furthermore, self-compassion was shown to partially mediate the relationship between negative cognitions and mood, therefore further exploration of compassion-based therapies for BD is needed.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Inflicted Burn Injuries in Patients With Previously Diagnosed Bipolar Disorder

Here we present a case of a 52-year-old female patient who was admitted to the Clinic in December 2021 due to the presence of right side facial burns which were caused by a cigarette lighter under suspicious conditions. Her past medical history revealed she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 20 and was hospitalized multiple times for the treatment of manic episodes. The last psychiatric hospitalization took place in October 2021. She had deep second-degree burns on the right side of the face, head and neck, with a total body surface area involvement of approximately 3%. On hospital day 18, she was found unresponsive, dyspnoic, with no palpable pulse and measurable tension. Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring revealed sinus bradycardia followed by cardiac asystole. After the first few minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, heart and lung action was re-established. Due to the presence of ECG changes in the form of ST depression and negative T waves in V2-V6, D1 and aVL, also higher blood level of high sensitivity troponin T, she was urgently transported to the Coronary Unit where she was diagnosed with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. On hospital day 27, due to the presence of sub-febrile temperature and non-productive cough, she was tested for COVID-19 infection and transported to the COVID Hospital Batajnica. She was discharged with stable laboratory parameters and normal chest radiography 37 days following initial admission. Considering the great psychological impact related to the COVID-19 pandemic, extensive mental health support and regular monitoring of critical groups is indicated.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe COVID-19 illness and COVID-19 mortality in people with pre-existing mental disorders: an umbrella review

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious health risk, especially in vulnerable populations. Even before the pandemic, people with mental disorders had worse physical health outcomes compared to the general population. This umbrella review investigated whether having a pre-pandemic mental disorder was associated with worse physical health outcomes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Following a pre-registered protocol available on the Open Science Framework platform, we searched Ovid MEDLINE All, Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL, and Web of Science up to the 6th of October 2021 for systematic reviews on the impact of COVID-19 on people with pre-existing mental disorders. The following outcomes were considered: risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 infection, risk of severe illness, COVID-19 related mortality risk, risk of long-term physical symptoms after COVID-19. For meta-analyses, we considered adjusted odds ratio (OR) as effect size measure. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment with the AMSTAR 2 tool have been done in parallel and duplicate.

RESULTS

We included five meta-analyses and four narrative reviews. The meta-analyses reported that people with any mental disorder had an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR: 1.71, 95% CI 1.09-2.69), severe illness course (OR from 1.32 to 1.77, 95%CI between 1.19-1.46 and 1.29-2.42, respectively) and COVID-19 related mortality (OR from 1.38 to 1.52, 95%CI between 1.15-1.65 and 1.20-1.93, respectively) as compared to the general population. People with anxiety disorders had an increased risk of SAR-CoV-2 infection, but not increased mortality. People with mood and schizophrenia spectrum disorders had an increased COVID-19 related mortality but without evidence of increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness. Narrative reviews were consistent with findings from the meta-analyses.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

As compared to the general population, there is strong evidence showing that people with pre-existing mental disorders suffered from worse physical health outcomes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and may therefore be considered a risk group similar to people with underlying physical conditions. Factors likely involved include living accommodations with barriers to social distancing, cardiovascular comorbidities, psychotropic medications and difficulties in accessing high-intensity medical care.

Mental Health Impact of Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Individuals with Pre-Existing Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Research

In view of disease-related threats, containment measures, and disrupted healthcare, individuals with pre-existing mental illness might be vulnerable to adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous reviews indicated increased mental distress, with limited information on peri-pandemic changes. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify longitudinal research investigating pre- to peri-pandemic and/or peri-pandemic changes of mental health in patients, focusing on the early phase and considering specific diagnoses. PsycINFO, Web of Science, the WHO Global literature on coronavirus disease database, and the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register weresearched through 31 May 2021. Studies were synthesized using vote counting based on effect direction. We included 40 studies mostly from Western, high-income countries. Findings were heterogeneous, with improving and deteriorating mental health observed compared to pre-pandemic data, partly depending on underlying diagnoses. For peri-pandemic changes, evidence was limited, with some suggestion of recovery of mental distress. Study quality was heterogeneous; only few studies investigated potential moderators (e.g., chronicity of mental illness). Mental health effects on people with pre-existing conditions are heterogeneous within and across diagnoses for pre- to peri-pandemic and peri-pandemic comparisons. To improve mental health services amid future global crises, forthcoming research should understand medium- and long-term effects, controlling for containment measures.

The impact of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on physical health outcomes in people with mood disorders across the lifespan: An umbrella review of the evidence from randomised controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

People with mood disorders have increased risk of comorbid medical diseases versus the general population. It is paramount to identify interventions to improve physical health in this population.

METHODS

Umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on pharmacological/non-pharmacological interventions for physical health outcomes/intolerability-related discontinuation in mood disorders (any age).

RESULTS

Ninety-seven meta-analyses were included. Among youths, against placebo, in depression, antidepressants/antipsychotics had higher discontinuation rates; in bipolar depression, olanzapine+fluoxetine worsened total cholesterol (TC)/triglycerides/weight gain (WG) (large ES). In adults with bipolar disorder, olanzapine worsened HbA1c/TC/WG (moderate/large ES); asenapine increased fasting glucose (small ES); quetiapine/cariprazine/risperidone induced WG (small/moderate ES). In bipolar depression, lurasidone was metabolically neutral. In depression, psychological interventions improved physical health-related quality of life (PHQoL) (small ES), fasting glucose/HbA1c (medium/large ES); SSRIs improved fasting glucose/HbA1c, readmission for coronary disease, pain (small ES); quetiapine/aripiprazole/olanzapine induced WG (small to large ES). Exercise improved cardiorespiratory fitness (moderate ES). In the elderly, fluoxetine yielded more detrimental cardiovascular effects than sertraline/escitalopram (large ES); antidepressants were neutral on exercise tolerance and PHQoL. In mixed age groups, in bipolar disorder aripiprazole was metabolically neutral; in depression, SSRIs lowered blood pressure versus placebo and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (small ES); brexpiprazole augmentation caused WG and was less tolerated (small ES); exercise improved PHQoL (moderate ES).

CONCLUSIONS

Some interventions (psychological therapies, exercise and SSRIs) improve certain physical health outcomes in mood disorders, few are neutral, but various pharmacological interventions are associated with negative effects. Evidence from this umbrella review has limitations, should consider evidence from other disorders and should be integrated with recent evidence from individual RCTs, and observational evidence. Effective treatments with either beneficial or physically neutral profiles should be prioritized.

Effect of psychotropics on the risk of COVID-19 in middle-aged and older adults

Older adults have been markedly impacted by the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, and many reports have cited concerns regarding potential psychiatric sequelae of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but the actual effects of psychotropics on the COVID-19 are unclear. In this study, multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between the prescription of psychotropics and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19-related death among the participants who were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) before October 18, 2021, in UK Biobank. The psychotropics included 18 types of medications. Among 168,173 participants who underwent testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, 30,577 (18.2%) were positive, and 14,284 (8.5%) participants used psychotropics. Among 30,577 participants who were infected with SARS-CoV-2, 1,181 (3.9%) were COVID-19-related deaths, and 2,542 (8.3%) participants used psychotropics. In multivariate logistic regression, psychotropics use was significantly associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.98), and COVID-19-related death (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.98). Interestingly, the use of diazepam was significantly associated with a 31% lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53-0.88). The use of sertraline was significantly associated with a 89% lower risk of COVID-19-related death (OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02-0.39). In conclusion, our findings suggested that the use of psychotropics was associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related deaths.

The effects of sustained COVID-19 emergency and restrictions on the mental health of subjects with serious mental illness: A prospective study

Few longitudinal studies have so far investigated the impact of sustained COVID-19 among people with pre-existing psychiatric disorders. We conducted a prospective study involving people with serious mental illness (n = 114) and healthy controls (n = 41) to assess changes in the Perceived Stress Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Specific Psychotic Experiences Questionnaire scores 18 months after the COVID-19 pandemic outset. Subjects underwent interviews with a mental health professional in April 2020 and at the end of the local third wave (October 2021). A significant increase in perceived stress was found in healthy controls, especially females. Psychiatric patients showed a significant worsening of anxiety symptoms compared to baseline records (t = -2.3, p = 0.036). Patients who rejected vaccination had significantly higher paranoia scores compared to those willing to get vaccinated (U = 649.5, z = -2.02, p = 0.04). These findings indicate that COVID-19's sustained emergency may cause enduring consequences on mental health, soliciting further investigations.

Remote mental health care interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: An umbrella review

Mitigating the COVID-19 related disruptions in mental health care services is crucial in a time of increased mental health disorders. Numerous reviews have been conducted on the process of implementing technology-based mental health care during the pandemic. The research question of this umbrella review was to examine what the impact of COVID-19 was on access and delivery of mental health services and how mental health services have changed during the pandemic. A systematic search for systematic reviews and meta-analyses was conducted up to August 12, 2022, and 38 systematic reviews were identified. Main disruptions during COVID-19 were reduced access to outpatient mental health care and reduced admissions and earlier discharge from inpatient care. In response, synchronous telemental health tools such as videoconferencing were used to provide remote care similar to pre-COVID care, and to a lesser extent asynchronous virtual mental health tools such as apps. Implementation of synchronous tools were facilitated by time-efficiency and flexibility during the pandemic but there was a lack of accessibility for specific vulnerable populations. Main barriers among practitioners and patients to use digital mental health tools were poor technological literacy, particularly when preexisting inequalities existed, and beliefs about reduced therapeutic alliance particularly in case of severe mental disorders. Absence of organizational support for technological implementation of digital mental health interventions due to inadequate IT infrastructure, lack of funding, as well as lack of privacy and safety, challenged implementation during COVID-19. Reviews were of low to moderate quality, covered heterogeneously designed primary studies and lacked findings of implementation in low- and middle-income countries. These gaps in the evidence were particularly prevalent in studies conducted early in the pandemic. This umbrella review shows that during the COVID-19 pandemic, practitioners and mental health care institutions mainly used synchronous telemental health tools, and to a lesser degree asynchronous tools to enable continued access to mental health care for patients. Numerous barriers to these tools were identified, and call for further improvements. In addition, more high quality research into comparative effectiveness and working mechanisms may improve scalability of mental health care in general and in future infectious disease outbreaks.

Have restrictions on human mobility impacted suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan?

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, various measures have been implemented to prevent the spread of infection, including restrictions on human mobility. A dynamic fluctuation in the number of suicides has been observed during this period. The question is whether the increase/decrease in suicides during the pandemic is related to changes in human mobility. To answer the same, we estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) of suicide for changes in human mobility using the relative number of suicides by month from March 2020 to September 2021, based on the same months in 2019 as reference. The IRR of suicide during the pandemic were significantly lower in the months when mobility decreased-in both the previous and current month-than in the months when mobility was stable; the IRR of suicide were statistically higher in the months with increased mobility compared with the stable months. The burden from a decrease in one's mobility, which might lead to an increase in suicide, may not occur immediately, as seen in the delayed effects of unemployment. It may be important to investigate people's mental health and stress levels after pandemic restrictions were relaxed. The findings may help practitioners and families consider the timing of intervention.

Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics during the COVID-19 pandemic in schizophrenia: An observational study in a real-world clinical setting

The COVID-19 pandemic is having an important impact on the practice of mental health services and on schizophrenia patients, and heterogeneous and conflicting findings are being reported on the reduction of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics use. Aims of the study were to assess the total number of patients treated with LAI, the start of novel LAI and the discontinuation of LAI treatments, analyzing register data of the first year of the pandemic, 2020, compared to a pre-pandemic reference year, 2019. Data from two outpatient centers were retrieved, for a total of 236 participants in 2020: no significant differences were observed comparing 2020 and 2019 when considering the total number of patients on LAI treatment (p = 0.890) and the number of dropouts (p = 0.262); however, a significant reduction in the start of LAI was observed (p = 0.022). In 2020, second generation LAI were more prescribed than first generation LAI (p = 0.040) while no difference was observed in 2019 (p = 0.191). These findings attest the efficacy of measures adopted in mental health services to face the consequences of COVID-19 and shed further light on the impact of the pandemic on the clinical practice of mental health services and on the continuity of care of people with schizophrenia.

Association between mental disorders and COVID-19 outcomes among inpatients in France: A retrospective nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

Mental disorders are at-risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. There is limited and heterogeneous national data in hospital settings evaluating the risks associated with any pre-existing mental disorder, and susceptible subgroups. Our study aimed to investigate the association between pre-existing psychiatric disorders and outcomes of adults hospitalised for COVID-19.

METHOD

We used data obtained from the French national hospital database linked to the state-level psychiatric registry. The primary outcome was 30-days in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were to compare the length of hospital stay, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and ICU length. Propensity score matching analysis was used to control for COVID-19 confounding factors between patients with or without mental disorder and stratified by psychiatric subgroups.

RESULTS

Among 97 302 adults hospitalised for COVID-19 from March to September 2020, 10 083 (10.3%) had a pre-existing mental disorder, mainly dementia (3581 [35.5%]), mood disorders (1298 [12.9%]), anxiety disorders (995 [9.9%]), psychoactive substance use disorders (960 [9.5%]), and psychotic disorders (866 [8.6%]). In propensity-matched analysis, 30-days in-hospital mortality was increased among those with at least one pre-existing mental disorder (hazard ratio (HR) 1.15, 95% CI 1.08-1.23), psychotic disorder (1.90, 1.24-2.90), and psychoactive substance disorders (1.53, 1.10-2.14). The odds of ICU admission were consistently decreased for patients with any pre-existing mental disorder (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.76-0.92) and for those with dementia (0.64, 0.53-0.76).

CONCLUSION

Pre-existing mental disorders were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. These findings underscore the important need for adequate care and targeted interventions for at-risk individuals with severe mental illness.

Perceived empowerment and the impact of negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of persons with severe mental illness

Purpose

Beyond its direct effects on physical health the COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to have negative effects on the living situation of people with severe mental illness (SMI). To date, there has been little research on resilience factors preventing people with SMI from experiencing negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of perceived empowerment (PE) as a resilience factor, preventing people with SMI from experiencing negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily living.

Methods

We investigated negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily living in 931 persons with SMI at two times within six month between June 2020 and Mai 2021. To take into account the longitudinal structure of the data we applied mixed effects regression analyses and longitudinal path models.

Results

A majority of participants experienced negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on several dimensions of daily living. Negative effects increased with rising levels of illness-related impairment but decreased as the level of PE rose. While negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic at follow-up were negatively associated with overall subjective quality of life baseline, PE was negatively associated with the negative impact of the pandemic and positively with quality of life.

Conclusion

Patients with SMI need support to reduce negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their quality of life. The promotion of PE could help strengthen resilience in this target group.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trial Register, DRKS00019086, registered on 3 January 2020. (https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00019086).

Trends and prevalence of suicide 2017-2021 and its association with COVID-19: Interrupted time series analysis of a national sample of college students in the United States

BACKGROUND

Suicide is among the leading causes of death for college students. We aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on trends in suicidal thoughts and behaviors among college students, and whether suicidal thoughts and behaviors were associated with COVID-19 infection and psychosocial factors.

METHODS

We analyzed 2017-2021 data from 4 waves of Healthy Minds Study including a random sample of college students (N = 354,473) from 286 U.S. institutions. We performed interrupted time series analysis to model the effect of the pandemic on trends in suicidal ideation (SI), plan (SP), and attempt (SA). At the peripandemic assessment, we utilized multivariable logistic regression to examine the association of SI, SP, and SA with COVID-19 infection and psychosocial factors.

RESULTS

We observed significant decreases in SI, SP, and SA among college students from 2017 to 2021. The pandemic was significantly associated with a 1.33 percentage points reduction in SI and a 0.85 percentage points reduction in SP but was not associated with a significant reduction in SA. Adjusted associations of SI, SP, and SA with risk factors showed the significant odds ratio (OR) for suspected COVID-19 infection (SI: 1.33, SP: 1.22, SA: 1.32), severe depression (SI: 6.39, SP: 6.63, SA: 5.63), severe anxiety (SI: 3.66, SP: 3.62, SA: 3.60), COVID-19-related financial stress (SI: 1.35, SP: 1.34, SA: 1.48), food insecurity (SI: 2.12, SP: 2.13, SA: 2.79), and academic impairment (SI: 2.07, SP: 2.05, SA: 2.14) but not for test-confirmed COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Certain COVID-19 mitigation strategies might have protected college students from suicidal thoughts/behaviors.

Resilience of people with chronic medical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 1-year longitudinal prospective survey

BACKGROUNDS

Individuals with chronic medical conditions are considered highly exposed to COVID-19 pandemic stress, but emerging evidence is demonstrating that resilience is common even among them. We aimed at identifying sustained resilient outcomes and their predictors in chronically ill people during the first year of the pandemic.

METHODS

This international 4-wave 1-year longitudinal online survey included items on socio-demographic characteristics, economic and living situation, lifestyle and habits, pandemic-related issues, and history of mental disorders. Adherence to and approval of imposed restrictions, trust in governments and in scientific community during the pandemic were also investigated. The following tools were administered: the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, the PTSD Checklist DSM-5, the Oslo Social Support Scale, the Padua Inventory, and the Portrait Values Questionnaire.

RESULTS

One thousand fifty-two individuals reporting a chronic condition out of 8011 total participants from 13 countries were included in the study, and 965 had data available for the final model. The estimated probability of being "sustained-resilient" was 34%. Older male individuals, participants employed before and during the pandemic or with perceived social support were more likely to belong to the sustained-resilience group. Loneliness, a previous mental disorder, high hedonism, fear of COVID-19 contamination, concern for the health of loved ones, and non-approving pandemic restrictions were predictors of not-resilient outcomes in our sample.

CONCLUSIONS

We found similarities and differences from established predictors of resilience and identified some new ones specific to pandemics. Further investigation is warranted and could inform the design of resilience-building interventions in people with chronic diseases.

Mental health prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with bipolar disorder: Insights from prospective longitudinal data

OBJECTIVES

Many studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the public, but few have focused on individuals with existing severe mental illness with longitudinal data before and during the pandemic.

AIMS

To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of people with bipolar disorder (BD).

METHODS

In an ongoing study of people with BD who used an online mood monitoring tool, True Colours, 356 participants provided weekly data on their mental health. Symptoms of depression, mania, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts were compared in 2019 and 2020. From May 2020, participants also provided weekly data on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety, coping strategies, access to care, and medications.

RESULTS

On average, symptoms of depression, mania, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts did not significantly differ in 2020 compared to 2019, but there was evidence of heterogeneity. There were high rates of anxiety about the pandemic and its impact on coping strategies, which increased to over 70% of responders in January 2021. A significant proportion of participants reported difficulty accessing routine care (27%) and medications (21%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although mood symptoms did not significantly increase during the pandemic overall, we observed heterogeneity among our BD sample and other impacted areas. Individuals' unique histories and psychosocial circumstances are key and should be explored in future qualitative studies. The significant impacts of the pandemic may take time to manifest, particularly among those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, highlighting the need for further long-term prospective studies.

Bipolar type I diagnosis after a manic episode secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection: A case report

RATIONALE

Our objective is to provide awareness about psychotic vulnerability in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to better understand the role of steroid withdrawal in manic episodes, especially with its common usage in respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We present the case of a patient who was hospitalized twice after discontinuing steroid therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection and presented with a manic episode despite not having a psychiatric history.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient tested positive on a polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 and developed pneumonia. Other organic differential diagnoses such as encephalitis were also investigated and excluded. Manic episodes were diagnosed according to DSM-V criteria. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with type I bipolar disorder.

INTERVENTIONS

According to the protocols, supplemental oxygen therapy, prophylactic enoxaparin and intravenous (IV) steroids were administered. Steroid dosage was gradually reduced under supervision. During the acute mania, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines were administered.

OUTCOMES

After discharge, the patient was admitted to the psychiatric consultation service. He first received mood stabilizer therapy and then received supportive psychotherapy.

LESSONS

Psychotic symptoms commonly occur after the discontinuation of high-dose steroid therapy; however, controlled tapering may prevent these side effects. Only a few cases have reported concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection and manic episodes, often with an apparent relationship with steroid withdrawal syndrome. In this case, we considered psychotic vulnerability a condition that is often underestimated. In consideration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the case may represent an underlying trigger for psychotic decompensation, which, in concert with neuroinflammation, may induce a manic episode.

The Relationship between Mental Disorders and the COVID-19 Pandemic—Course, Risk Factors, and Potential Consequences

In this review the authors discuss that COVID-19 has already had a direct impact on the physical health of many people and that it appears to have put at risk the mental health of large populations. In this review, we also discuss the relationship between mental disorders and the SARS-CoV-2 infection. We convey the disorders’ risk factors and the more serious mental disorder consequences of COVID-19. People with mental health disorders could be more susceptible to the emotional responses brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic. The COVID-19 pandemic may adversely influence the mental health of patients with already diagnosed mental disorders. For the aim of dealing better with the psychological problems of people afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, new psychological procedures are required.

Suicidality in clinically stable bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a disproportionate impact on vulnerable subpopulations, including those with severe mental illness (SMI). This study examined the one-year prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI), suicide plans (SP), and suicide attempts (SA) in bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) patients during the pandemic. Prevalence rates were compared between the two disorders and associated factors were examined. A survey was conducted in six tertiary psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units. People with a diagnosis of BD or SCZ were invited to participate. SI, SP, and SA (suicidality for short) were assessed and associated factors were examined using binary logistical regression. The 1-year prevalence of SI, SP and SA in BD patients were 58.3%, (95% CI: 54.1-62.6%), 38.4% (95% CI: 34.3-42.6%) and 38.6% (95% CI: 34.5-42.8%), respectively, which were higher than the corresponding figures in SCZ patients (SI: 33.2%, 95% CI: 28.6-37.8%; SP: 16.8%, 95% CI: 13.2-20.5%; SA: 19.4%, 95% CI: 15.5-23.3%). Patients with younger age, experience of cyberbullying, a history of SA among family or friends, a higher fatigue and physical pain score, inpatient status, and severe depressive symptoms were more likely to have suicidality. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased risk of suicidality, particularly in BD patients. It is of importance to regularly screen suicidality in BD and SCZ patients during the pandemic even if they are clinically stable.

Greater Emotional Distress Due to Social Distancing and Greater Symptom Severity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Multicenter Study in Austria, Germany, and Denmark

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health of individuals with bipolar disorders (BD) is potentially more vulnerable, especially regarding COVID-19-related regulations and associated symptomatic changes. A multicentric online study was conducted in Austria, Germany, and Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, data from 494 participants were collected (203 individuals with BD, 291 healthy controls (HC)). Participants filled out questionnaires surveying emotional distress due to social distancing, fear of COVID-19, and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 to assess symptom severity at four points of measurement between 2020 and 2021. General linear mixed models were calculated to determine the difference between the groups in these pandemic specific factors. Individuals with BD reported higher distress due to social distancing than HC, independently of measurement times. Fear of COVID-19 did not differ between groups; however, it was elevated in times of higher infection and mortality due to COVID-19. Individuals with BD reported higher psychiatric symptom severity than HC; however, symptom severity decreased throughout the measured time in the pandemic. Overall, individuals with BD experienced more distress due to the COVID-19 situation than HC. A supportive mental health system is thus recommended to ensure enhanced care, especially in times of strict COVID-19-related regulations.

COVID-19 lockdown - who cares? The first lockdown from the perspective of relatives of people with severe mental illness

Background

Informal care is vital to many people with severe mental illness under normal circumstances. Little is known about how extraordinary circumstances affect relatives with a family member with mental illness. This study investigated the consequences of the first COVID-19 lockdown in Norway from the perspective of relatives of persons with psychotic- and/or bipolar disorders: What were the challenges and for whom?

Method

Relatives were invited to complete an online survey shortly after the first lockdown was initiated. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected concerning experiences of relatives’ own and their affected family members’ health and situation. Two hundred and seventy-nine relatives completed the survey, mostly mothers and partners.

Results

One-third of the relatives reported considerable deterioration in their family members’ mental health, and a substantial minority worried about severe self-harm or suicide. Main themes in the qualitative analyses were “Isolation and its effects on mental health”, “Worrying about the pandemic and its consequences”, “Increased symptomatology” and “Suicide”. Being a relative during the lockdown put heavy strain on the relatives’ own health, in particular disturbance of sleep, concentration, and the ability to take care of others in the family. Relatives of family members with psychotic bipolar disorder, not currently in treatment, or living with their family experienced the situation especially challenging.

Conclusions

Many relatives found the first lockdown hard for their family. Efforts to integrate relatives’ perspectives in health care and contingency plans under normal circumstances could potentially alleviate some of the extra burden experienced by families during extraordinary circumstances.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13458-5.

The impact of COVID-19 on patients with OCD: A one-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns regarding its psychological effects on people with preexisting psychiatric disorders have been raised, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Nevertheless, only a few longitudinal studies have been performed, and a more longstanding follow-up of a clinical sample is needed. In this study, our aim was to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on symptom changes in a sample of Brazilian OCD patients for about a one-year period.

METHODS

Thirty OCD outpatients seen in a specialized OCD clinic in Rio de Janeiro were evaluated at baseline and after one year (during the pandemic). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected along with a questionnaire aimed at quantifying the number of stressful events related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparisons between two time points (pre vs. during COVID-19) and two subgroups (patients with vs without worsening of symptoms) were carried out.

RESULTS

As a group, OCD patients treated with SRIs had an overall stabilization of symptoms throughout the follow-up period, regardless of the number of stressful experiences related to coronavirus (median baseline YBOCS remained 22.0 at follow-up). In addition, when individually analyzed, even those who reported an increase in their symptoms did not describe a greater number of COVID-19 related events.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with OCD, who were under treatment, did not show significant symptom deterioration as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual variations in OCD symptom severity did not seem to be related to experiences linked to coronavirus.

The post COVID-19 healthcare landscape and the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics for individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder: the importance of an integrated collaborative-care approach

BACKGROUND

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are an essential maintenance treatment option for individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder (BP-I). This report summarizes a roundtable discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental healthcare landscape and use of LAIs for individuals with schizophrenia or BP-I.

METHODS

Ten experts and stakeholders from diverse fields of healthcare participated in a roundtable discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, treatment challenges, and gaps in healthcare for individuals with schizophrenia or BP-I, informed by a literature search.

RESULTS

Individuals with schizophrenia or BP-I are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection and increased risk of mortality after COVID-19 diagnosis. LAI prescriptions decreased early on in the pandemic, driven by a decrease in face-to-face consultations. Mental healthcare services are adapting with increased use of telehealth and home-based treatment. Clinical workflows to provide consistent, in-person LAI services include screening for COVID-19 exposure and infection, minimizing contact, and ensuring mask-wearing by individuals and staff. The importance of continued in-person visits for LAIs needs to be discussed so that staff can share that information with patients, their caregivers, and families. A fully integrated, collaborative-care model is the most important aspect of care for individuals with schizophrenia or BP-I during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of a fully integrated collaborative-care model to ensure regular, routine healthcare contact and access to prescribed treatments and services for individuals with schizophrenia and BP-I.

Clinical Aspects of Manic Episodes After SARS-CoV-2 Contagion or COVID-19

As COVID-19 pandemic spread all over the world, it brought serious health consequences in every medical field, including mental health. Not only healthcare professionals were more prone to develop anxiety, depression, and stress, but the general population suffered as well. Some of those who had no prior history of a psychiatric disease developed peculiar symptoms following infection with SARS-CoV-2, mostly because of psychological and social issues triggered by the pandemic. People developed traumatic memories, and hypochondria, probably triggered by social isolation and stress. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 has influenced the mental health of psychiatric patients as well, exacerbating prior psychiatric conditions. In this review, we focus on analyzing those cases of mania in the context of bipolar disorder (BD) reported after COVID-19 disease, both in people with no prior psychiatric history and in psychiatric patients who suffered an exacerbation of the disease. Results have shown that COVID-19 may trigger a pre-existing BD or unmask an unknown BD, due to social and psychological influences (decreased social interaction, change in sleep patterns) and through biological pathways both (neuroinflammation and neuroinvasion through ACE-2 receptors expressed in the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS and CNS respectively). No direct correlation was found between the severity of COVID-19 disease and manic symptoms. All cases presenting severe symptoms of both diseases needed specific medical treatment, meaning that they concur but are separate in the treatment strategy needed. This review highlights the importance of a now widespread viral disease as a potential agent unmasking and exacerbating bipolar mood disorder, and it can hopefully help physicians in establishing a rapid diagnosis and treatment, and pave the road for future research on neuroinflammation triggered by SARS-CoV-2.

Joint European policy on the COVID-19 risks for people with mental disorders: An umbrella review and evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for mental and public health

As COVID-19 becomes endemic, identifying vulnerable population groups for severe infection outcomes and defining rapid and effective preventive and therapeutic strategies remains a public health priority. We performed an umbrella review, including comprehensive studies (meta-analyses and systematic reviews) investigating COVID-19 risk for infection, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality in people with psychiatric disorders, and outlined evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for overcoming potential barriers that psychiatric patients may experience in preventing and managing COVID-19, and defining optimal therapeutic options and current research priorities in psychiatry. We searched Web of Science, PubMed, and Ovid/PsycINFO databases up to 17 January 2022 for the umbrella review. We synthesized evidence, extracting when available pooled odd ratio estimates for the categories “any mental disorder” and “severe mental disorders.” The quality of each study was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 approach and ranking evidence quality. We identified four systematic review/meta-analysis combinations, one meta-analysis, and three systematic reviews, each including up to 28 original studies. Although we rated the quality of studies from moderate to low and the evidence ranged from highly suggestive to non-significant, we found consistent evidence that people with mental illness are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and most importantly mortality, but not of ICU admission. The risk and the burden of COVID-19 in people with mental disorders, in particular those with severe mental illness, can no longer be ignored but demands urgent targeted and persistent action. Twenty-two recommendations are proposed to facilitate this process.

Hospitalization for COVID-19 is associated with a higher risk of subsequent hospitalization for psychiatric disorders: A French nationwide longitudinal study comparing hospitalizations for COVID-19 and for other reasons

Introduction

Although COVID-19 has been associated with psychiatric symptoms in patients, no study to date has examined the risk of hospitalization for psychiatric disorders after hospitalization for this disease.

Objective

We aimed to compare the proportions of hospitalizations for psychiatric disorders in the 12 months following either hospitalization for COVID-19 or hospitalization for another reason in the adult general population in France during the first wave of the current pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective longitudinal nationwide study based on the national French administrative healthcare database.

Results

Among the 2,894,088 adults hospitalized, 96,313 (3.32%) were admitted for COVID-19. The proportion of patients subsequently hospitalized for a psychiatric disorder was higher for COVID-19 patients (11.09 vs. 9.24%, OR = 1.20 95%CI 1.18–1.23). Multivariable analyses provided similar results for a psychiatric disorder of any type and for psychotic and anxiety disorders (respectively, aOR = 1.06 95%CI 1.04–1.09, aOR = 1.09 95%CI 1.02–1.17, and aOR = 1.11 95%CI 1.08–1.14). Initial hospitalization for COVID-19 in intensive care units and psychiatric history were associated with a greater risk of subsequent hospitalization for any psychiatric disorder than initial hospitalization for another reason.

Discussion

Compared with hospitalizations for other reasons, hospitalizations for COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in France were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization for a psychiatric disorder during the 12 months following initial discharge. This finding should encourage clinicians to increase the monitoring and assessment of psychiatric symptoms after hospital discharge for COVID-19, and to propose post-hospital care, especially for those treated in intensive care.

Changes in Tobacco Use Patterns among Veterans in San Diego during the Recent Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The prevalence of tobacco use increases in times of stress; however, during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, tobacco use rates stayed the same in most populations. Previous work focused on the initial months of the pandemic, while this study examined the changes in tobacco use during a later peak period of the pandemic. We used data from 61,852 visits to the VA San Diego Healthcare System from November 2019 to February 2021, divided into pre-, early, and peak pandemic periods. Multinomial logistic regression was used to test whether the odds of being a daily or non-daily tobacco user varied over time, by demographic group, or with the presence of specific psychiatric diagnoses. Younger Veterans had a greater reduction in the prevalence of non-daily tobacco use between the early and peak periods, while older Veterans had a rise in daily use from pre- to the early pandemic, which returned to baseline during the peak. Individuals with substance use disorder and serious mental illness diagnoses were more likely to report tobacco use, but psychiatric diagnoses did not predict change over time. These findings demonstrate factors that potentially contribute to changes in tobacco use during a public health crisis and may help guide future targeted cessation efforts.