The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Adolescents With Chronic Medical Conditions: Findings From a German Pediatric Outpatient Clinic

Mental disorders in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the DPV registry

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of children and adolescents in the general population, yet its impact on those with chronic conditions is relatively unknown. This study aimed to compare the incidences of comorbid mental disorders and substance misuse in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes before and during the pandemic.

METHODS

A total of 42,975 patients aged 6-18 years from the multicentre DPV (Diabetes Prospective Follow-up) registry were included. Multivariable regression models were applied to compare newly diagnosed comorbid mental disorders, adjusted for demographic and clinical variables, among them the number of medical visits, during the pre-pandemic period (09/2017-02/2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic period (03/2020-08/2022).

RESULTS

Analysing both sexes together, there were no differences in the incidence rates of overall mental disorders between the pandemic and the pre-pandemic period. However, girls showed an increased incidence rate (odds ratio 1.2, CI 1.1-1.3) during the pandemic. Adolescent girls also displayed higher incidence rates of depression, eating disorders, and self-harm. Substance misuse declined overall during the pandemic (odds ratio 0.8, CI 0.7-0.9).

CONCLUSIONS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we found higher incidence rates of overall mental disorders in girls, but not in boys and not in the total study population of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Adolescent girls displayed increased incidence rates of depression, eating disorders, and self-harm. Substance misuse declined substantially. Clinicians should be aware of the high-risk group of adolescent girls during times of increased strain.

Exploring the potential of CoMoO4-modified graphitic carbon nitride to boost oxidation of amoxicillin micropollutants in hospital wastewater

This study investigates the removal of amoxicillin micropollutants (AM) from hospital wastewater using CoMoO4-modified graphitic carbon nitride (CMO/gCN). Consequently, CMO/gCN exhibits notable improvements in visible light absorption and electron-hole separation rates compared to unmodified gCN. Besides, CMO/gCN significantly enhances the removal efficiency of AM, attaining an impressive 96.5%, far surpassing the performance of gCN at 48.6%. Moreover, CMO/gCN showcases outstanding reusability, with AM degradation performance exceeding 70% even after undergoing six cycles of reuse. The removal mechanism of AM employing CMO/gCN involves various photoreactions of radicals (•OH, •O2-) and amoxicillin molecules under light assistance. Furthermore, CMO/gCN demonstrates a noteworthy photodegradation efficiency of AM from hospital wastewater, reaching 92.8%, with a near-complete reduction in total organic carbon levels. Detailed discussions on the practical applications of the CMO/gCN photocatalyst for removal of micropollutants from hospital wastewater are provided. These findings underline the considerable potential of CMO/gCN for effectively removing various pollutants in environmental remediation strategies.

Evaluation of COVID-19 Effect on Mental Health, Self-Harm, and Suicidal Behaviors in Children and Adolescents Population

OBJECTIVES

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological state of the under-18 population includes an increased risk of psychopathological symptoms development and exacerbation of already present psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of mental health problems in Polish children and adolescents with a focus on suicidal and self-harm behavior with the impact of the pandemic.

METHODS

The questionnaire collected demographic data, information regarding mental states and psychopathological symptoms, history of self-harm and suicidal behaviors, as well as the experience of psychological, and physical violence, and suicidal self-harm behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

In the final analysis, 782 responses were included. Self-evaluation of general and mental health scores was significantly lower during the pandemic among children (both p < 0.001) and adolescents (both p < 0.001). Moreover, general and mental health scores were lower among adolescents compared to children before (both p < 0.001) and during (both p < 0.001) the pandemic. The frequency of seeking help because of mental health problems increased during the pandemic among children and adolescents, while no changes were observed in the prevalence of psychiatric hospitalizations in either of the populations (p = 0.317 and p = 1.00, respectively). Out of autoregressive behaviors among children during the pandemic period, only the frequency of thinking about death increased (p = 0.038). No suicidal attempts were undertaken by children in either of the evaluated time periods. The presence of all autoaggressive behaviors was greater among adolescents compared to children both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (all p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A subjective decrease in psychophysical well-being, an increase in the frequency of seeking mental health help during the pandemic, as well as an increased prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms were observed in the under-18 population as a potential consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and related socioeconomic changes. The marked increase in self-harm behavior in the adolescent population (age > 12) and the marked increase in the frequency of death thinking in children (age ≤ 12) suggests the need for greater awareness and easier access to professional help from mental health specialists, particularly in a time of unprecedented stress and social isolation.