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Fehr M, Köhler S, Roth-Sackenheim C, Geschke K, Tüscher O, Adorjan K, Lieb K, Hölzel LP, Wiegand HF. Outpatient mental health care during high incidence phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany - changes in utilization, challenges and post-COVID care. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01886-w. [PMID: 39218918 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01886-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As only a few studies have examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health outpatient system so far, the aim of the COVID Ψ Outpatient Survey was to gain insight from outpatient providers in Germany regarding changes in utilization; associated problems and challenges; telemedicine services; interactions with inpatient and nursing home services; and experiences with post-COVID syndromes. METHODS Between July and September 2021, we invited 351 randomly selected outpatient mental health specialists to take part in the online survey via e-mail. Additionally, we extended an invitation to professional associations to encourage their members to participate. N = 105 physicians of most regions of Germany took part in the survey. RESULTS Survey participants reported changes in utilization during the high incidence phases (HIP) of the pandemic using pre-formulated categories: For the first HIP in spring 2020, 31% of the survey participants reported a decrease > 20% and 5% an increase > 20% of patient contacts. For the third HIP in spring 2021, 4% reported a decrease > 20% of contacts, while 30% an increase > 20%. Participants chose "patient's fears of infection" and "providers protection measures" as reasons for decreases, and "pandemic related anxieties", "economic stressors", and "capacity reductions of the inpatient system" as reasons for increases of patient contact. Many providers introduced telemedicine services. A majority reported consultations for post-COVID syndromes already in spring 2021. CONCLUSIONS The survey hinted at changes in utilization, multiple problems but as well good-practice-solutions in the mental health outpatient system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Fehr
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabine Köhler
- Berufsverband Deutscher Nervenärzte, Berlin, Germany
- Berufsverband Deutscher Psychiater, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christa Roth-Sackenheim
- Berufsverband Deutscher Nervenärzte, Berlin, Germany
- Berufsverband Deutscher Psychiater, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Geschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Oliver Tüscher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55131, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medicine Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Lieb
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lars P Hölzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55131, Mainz, Germany
- Oberberg Parkklinik Wiesbaden Schlangenbad, Schlangenbad, Germany
| | - Hauke F Wiegand
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
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Tagliabue I, Caldiroli A, Capuzzi E, Borgonovo R, Scalia A, Ferrè A, Sibilla M, Turco M, Affaticati LM, Crespi G, Galimberti G, Dakanalis A, Colmegna F, Buoli M, Clerici M. Which Factors Are Associated With Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions in Patients Affected by Substance Use Disorders? The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dual-Diagnosis Subjects. J Dual Diagn 2024; 20:201-209. [PMID: 38728603 DOI: 10.1080/15504263.2024.2346519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate demographic/cinical variables associated to dual diagnosis and the psychological reaction of dual-diagnosis patients to COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Information was collected at the Addiction Service of Monza, Italy. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), a self-report questionnaire measuring the subjective response to a traumatic event, was administered. Univariate analyses and binary logistic regression were performed. IES-R scores were compared between groups defined by qualitative variables through one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS 118 outpatients were included, 48.3% with dual diagnosis. Alcohol use disorder and being female were associated to dual diagnosis. IES-R scores were significantly higher in the dual-diagnosis group, especially for personality disorders (PDs). IES-R scores were higher in patients taking treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). CONCLUSIONS Females and alcohol abusers were at-risk subjects for dual diagnosis. Patients with SUD and PDs may benefit from additional support, especially when traumatic life events occur. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04694482.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Tagliabue
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Alice Caldiroli
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza Italy
| | - Enrico Capuzzi
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza Italy
| | - Riccardo Borgonovo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Alberto Scalia
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ferrè
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Matteo Sibilla
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Marco Turco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Crespi
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Brianza, Vimercate, Italy
| | | | - Antonios Dakanalis
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza Italy
| | - Fabrizia Colmegna
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza Italy
| | - Massimiliano Buoli
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Clerici
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza Italy
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Di Lorenzo R, Reami M, Dragone D, Morgante M, Panini G, Ferri P, Rovesti S. Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Hospitalizations in an Acute Psychiatric Ward. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2024; 17:1713-1723. [PMID: 38953036 PMCID: PMC11215659 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s465858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The Sars-CoV-2 pandemic imposed unprecedented and drastic changes in health care organizations all over the world. Purpose To evaluate the impact of the pandemic on hospitalizations in an acute psychiatric ward. Patients and Methods We retrospectively identified and compared acute psychiatric hospitalizations in the Service for Psychiatric Diagnosis and Care (SPDC) of AUSL-Modena during the pre-pandemic (n = 1858) and pandemic period (n = 1095), from 01/01/2017 to 31/12/2022. Data were statistically analyzed using STATA12. Results We collected 1858 hospitalizations in the pre-pandemic and 1095 in the pandemic. During the pandemic, we observed a progressively sharp reduction in voluntary hospitalizations, whereas involuntary ones remained stable with an increase in 2022 (p < 0.001), longer hospital stays (12.32 mean days vs 10.03; p < 0.001), longer periods of involuntary hospitalizations (8.45 mean days vs 5.72; p < 0.001), more frequent aggressive behaviour (16.10% vs 9.12%; p < 0.001) and referral to psychiatric communities at discharge (11.04% vs 6.13%; p < 0.001); non-Italians (p = 0.001), people with disability pension (p < 0.001) and Support Administrator (p < 0.001) were more frequently hospitalized. Conclusion During the pandemic, voluntary psychiatric hospitalizations decreased, but not involuntary ones, and the most vulnerable people in serious clinical conditions were hospitalized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Di Lorenzo
- Mental Health Department and Drug Abuse, AUSL-Modena, Modena, 41124, Italy
| | - Matteo Reami
- School of Medicine & Surgery, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy
| | - Diego Dragone
- Mental Health Department and Drug Abuse, AUSL-Modena, Modena, 41124, Italy
| | - Martina Morgante
- Mental Health Department and Drug Abuse, AUSL-Modena, Modena, 41124, Italy
| | - Giulia Panini
- Mental Health Department and Drug Abuse, AUSL-Modena, Modena, 41124, Italy
| | - Paola Ferri
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy
| | - Sergio Rovesti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy
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Goldschmidt T, Kippe YD, Gutwinski S, Deutscher K, Schouler-Ocak M, Kroehn-Liedtke F. Police-referred psychiatric emergency presentations during the first and second wave of COVID-19 in Berlin, Germany: a retrospective chart review. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:441. [PMID: 38867167 PMCID: PMC11167819 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05903-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Literature on psychiatric emergency services (PES) presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic showed heterogeneous results regarding patients brought in by police (BIBP). This is the first study primarily focusing on patients BIBP in a PES during the COVID-19-period. METHODS Case documentation records during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in a PES in Berlin, Germany were analyzed using descriptive data analysis and binomial logistic regression analysis to detect factors that predict presentations BIBP. RESULTS 5440 PES presentations: 20.4% BIBP during the first wave vs. 16.3% during its control period; second wave: 17.6% BIBP vs. 14.9% during its control period. In both waves, absolute increases in presentations BIBP were seen compared to control (p = .029, p = .028, respectively). COVID-19-period was a predictor for presentations BIBP during the first and the second wave. The following factors also predicted presentations BIBP: younger age, male gender, aggressive behavior, suicide attempt prior to presentation and diagnosis of psychotic or substance use disorders; depressive disorders were negatively associated. CONCLUSIONS During the two first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in presentations BIBP in a PES in Berlin. Regression analysis shows that the pandemic itself was a predictor of presentations BIBP. The underlying factors of this association need to be further elucidated in future research. Additionally, general factors predicting PES presentations BIBP are reported that replenish the present literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Goldschmidt
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, Berlin, Germany.
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Yann David Kippe
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Gutwinski
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karl Deutscher
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, Berlin, Germany
| | - Meryam Schouler-Ocak
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Kroehn-Liedtke
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, Berlin, Germany
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Gouse BM, Oblath R, Gibbs JS, Reagan EG, Brown HE. COVID-19 pandemic and emergency department visits for psychosis: Visit volume, restraint use, medication use, psychiatric hospitalization, and length of stay. Schizophr Res 2024; 267:301-307. [PMID: 38603838 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder were at heightened risk for interruptions in psychiatric care during the coronavirus-19 (COVID 19) pandemic. There is limited work exploring the pandemic's impact on emergency department (ED) visit volume, use of restraint and parenteral medications, inpatient psychiatric (IP) hospitalization, and ED length of stay (LOS) among this population. METHODS We retrospectively examined 2134 ED visits with a billing code for psychosis between March 1, 2019-February 28, 2021. We used Poisson regression analysis to compare ED visit volume between the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. Restraint use, parenteral antipsychotic or benzodiazepine use, IP hospitalization, and ED LOS were compared between the two periods using chi-square tests and independent samples t-tests. RESULTS Overall volume of psychosis-related ED visits during the pandemic did not differ significantly from the prior year. Rates of restraint use (16.2 % vs 11.6 %, p < .01), parenteral antipsychotic (22.6 % vs 14.9, p < .001), and parenteral benzodiazepine (22.3 % vs 16.3 %, p < .001) use were significantly higher during the pandemic. Fewer patients had an IP hospital disposition during the pandemic than the year prior (57.8 % vs. 61.9 %, p < .05). ED LOS was longer during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (28.37 h vs 20.26 h, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Although the volume of psychosis-related ED visits remained constant, restraint and parenteral medication use rates were significantly higher during the pandemic. ED LOS increased but fewer ED visits resulted in IP hospitalization. These findings underscore the importance of planning for increased acuity of psychosis ED presentations during public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany M Gouse
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston 02118, USA; Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis Research Program, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Rachel Oblath
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston 02118, USA
| | - Jada S Gibbs
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Ellen G Reagan
- Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis Research Program, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Hannah E Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston 02118, USA; Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis Research Program, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Hicks LJ, Toombs E, Lund J, Kowatch KR, Hopkins C, Mushquash CJ. Expanding our understanding of digital mental health interventions for Indigenous youth: An updated systematic review. J Telemed Telecare 2024:1357633X241239715. [PMID: 38584397 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x241239715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Past research has examined available literature on electronic mental health interventions for Indigenous youth with mental health concerns. However, as there have recently been increases in both the number of studies examining electronic mental health interventions and the need for such interventions (i.e. during periods of pandemic isolation), the present systematic review aims to provide an updated summary of the available peer-reviewed and grey literature on electronic mental health interventions applicable to Indigenous youth. The purpose of this review is to better understand the processes used for electronic mental health intervention development. Among the 48 studies discussed, smoking cessation and suicide were the most commonly targeted mental health concerns in interventions. Text message and smartphone application (app) interventions were the most frequently used delivery methods. Qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed outcomes were presented in several studies, while other studies outlined intervention development processes or study protocols, indicating high activity in future electronic mental health intervention research. Among the findings, common facilitators included the use of community-based participatory research approaches, representation of culture, and various methods of motivating participant engagement. Meanwhile, common barriers included the lack of necessary resources and limits on the amount of support that online interventions can provide. Considerations regarding the standards and criteria for the development of future electronic mental health interventions for Indigenous youth are offered and future research directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia J Hicks
- Department of Psychology, Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus, ON, Canada
| | - Elaine Toombs
- Department of Psychology, Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus, ON, Canada
- Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, Fort William First Nation, Canada
| | - Jessie Lund
- Department of Psychology, Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus, ON, Canada
| | - Kristy R Kowatch
- Department of Psychology, Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus, ON, Canada
| | - Carol Hopkins
- Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, Bothwell, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher J Mushquash
- Department of Psychology, Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus, ON, Canada
- Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, Fort William First Nation, Canada
- Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, ON, Canada
- Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, ON, Canada
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Aksoy Poyraz C, Uçar Bostan B, Ersungur Çelik EB, Kara Esen B. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on emergency psychiatry department admissions. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36878. [PMID: 38241534 PMCID: PMC10798784 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and lockdown period measures on patients' visits to the psychiatric emergency department (PED) of a University Hospital in İstanbul. We compared the number and characteristics of patients during the initial lockdown with visits in the pre- and post-lockdown months. We also investigated the number of monthly PED visits and hospitalizations between March 11, 2020 and 2021 and compared it to the same period in 2019 and between March 2021 and 2022. PED visits in the initial lockdown period in our university increased by 109% compared to the prelockdown months in the previous year. Anxiety and depressive disorders were responsible for most of this increase. The decline in PED visits was 3.1% and 42% during the first and second year of the pandemic, respectively; however, among the major diagnostic categories, we found that the rates of anxiety, depressive disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder increased significantly in the first year, while psychotic disorders declined and bipolar disorders remained the same. In the second year, there was a trend toward prepandemic year ratios. These findings show that the pandemic affects PED admissions in different ways at different periods. These data may also help shaping the public policies necessary to meet the evolving needs in the field of mental health of society at different public crises in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cana Aksoy Poyraz
- Department of Psychiatry, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Büşra Uçar Bostan
- Department of Psychiatry, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Elif Burcu Ersungur Çelik
- Department of Psychiatry, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Beril Kara Esen
- Department of Public Health, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
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8
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Kirchner H, Bohn A, Hulsmans N, Brzoska P, Pajonk FGB. [Impact of the 2020 lockdown on prehospital psychiatric emergencies in a large city]. DIE ANAESTHESIOLOGIE 2024; 73:26-32. [PMID: 38214705 DOI: 10.1007/s00101-023-01370-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represented a serious challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Special psychiatric patients represent a vulnerable group and are particularly affected by lockdown interventions. Knowledge on the possible effects for this group of patients in an emergency physician setting is low. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of the first lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 on emergency ambulance services for psychiatric patients in a large German city. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on all prehospital psychiatric emergencies in a large German city during the first pandemic-related lockdown from 22 March 2020 to 4 May 2020, with the same period in 2019 serving as a reference. RESULTS During the first lockdown there was a significant increase in the number of emergency missions with respect to psychiatric cases. A substantial rise in substance-associated deployments was observed. Moreover, there was an increase in the proportion of psychiatric patients who did not meet emergency criteria. Suicidal tendencies and agitation status played a minor role during the lockdown. CONCLUSION The lockdown had a notable impact on the frequency and profile of emergency physician calls in the metropolitan area studied. The substantial increase in substance-associated callouts can be interpreted as both a deterioration in access to the healthcare system and an expression of the increased stress faced by the general population and vulnerable groups in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heribert Kirchner
- Universität Witten/Herdecke, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58455, Witten, Deutschland.
| | - Andreas Bohn
- Klinik für Anästhesiologie, operative Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Deutschland
- Feuerwehr, Ärztliche Leitung Rettungsdienst, Stadt Münster, Münster, Deutschland
| | - Nik Hulsmans
- Fakultät V, Department für Psychologie, Universität Siegen, Siegen, Deutschland
| | - Patrick Brzoska
- Universität Witten/Herdecke, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58455, Witten, Deutschland
| | - Frank-Gerald B Pajonk
- Zentrum Isartal, Kloster Schäftlarn, Schäftlarn, Deutschland
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie am Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Deutschland
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Ricklan SJ, Sohler N, Ezie CEC, Avalone L, Dinsell V, Lewis C, Fattal O, Balan S, McQuistion H, Pastore F, Sarcevic N, Swift R, Espejo G, Lorenz C. Impact of Telemedicine on Utilization of Psychiatric Resources in New York City during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Community Ment Health J 2024; 60:115-123. [PMID: 38105337 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01210-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
This study sought to evaluate the impact of telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic among patients discharged from psychiatric inpatient units in the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation system. We compared patients discharged to telepsychiatry (April 2020, n = 739) and in-person follow-up (May 2019, n = 527); we collected number, timing and attendance for follow-up appointments and number and timing of emergency room (ER) visits and readmissions. We used logistic regression to evaluate the odds of having these encounters and Kaplan-Meier analyses to compare time to these encounters. Patients discharged in 2020 were more likely to have a follow-up (29.4 vs. 19.9%, p < 0.001) and an ER visit or readmission (40.5 vs. 28.7%, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analyses showed shorter time to first follow-up (chi-square = 14.69, d.f.=1, p < 0.0001, follow-ups = 322) and ER visit or readmission (chi-square = 19.57, d.f.=1, p < 0.0001, ER visits or admissions = 450) in the 2020 cohort. In multivariable analyses, patients discharged in 2020 were more likely to have a follow-up visit (adjusted OR 1.85, 95% confidence interval 1.40, 2.45, p < 0.0001). We found an increase in psychiatric service utilization during the pandemic, with an increase in and shorter time until outpatient visits and ER visits or readmissions. Although increased use of psychiatric services during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic is encouraging, it also points to the depth of the crisis among vulnerable populations; this pattern warrants further exploration and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Ricklan
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Nancy Sohler
- CUNY School of Medicine, Harris Hall, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, 10031, NY, USA
| | - C E Chiemeka Ezie
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Lynsey Avalone
- NYC Health and Hospitals, 125 Worth Street, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Victoria Dinsell
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 462 1st Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Crystal Lewis
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, One Park Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Omar Fattal
- NYC Health and Hospitals, 125 Worth Street, Office 423, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Sabish Balan
- Harlem Hospital, 506 Lenox Avenue, New York, NY, 10037, USA
| | - Hunter McQuistion
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, One Park Ave, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Frank Pastore
- North Central Bronx Hospital, 3424 Kossuth Avenue, New York, NY, 10467, USA
| | - Nermica Sarcevic
- Jacobi Hospital, 1400 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Ronnie Swift
- NY Health and Hospitals/Metropolitan, 1901 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Gemma Espejo
- Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th St, New York, NY, 10467, USA
| | - Carina Lorenz
- NYC Health and Hospitals-Bellevue, 462 1st Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Kalanj K, Ćurković M, Peček M, Orešković S, Orbanić A, Marshall R. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute mental health admissions in Croatia. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1231796. [PMID: 38026363 PMCID: PMC10679393 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1231796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The pandemic of COVID-19 had a profound impact on our community and healthcare system. This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric care in Croatia by comparing the number of acute psychiatric cases before coronavirus disease (2017-2019) and during the pandemic (2020-2022). Materials and methods The paper is a retrospective, comparative analyzes of the hospital admission rate in Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) classes related to mental diseases, and organic mental disorders caused by alcohol and drug use. This study used DRG data from all acute hospitals in Croatia accredited to provide mental health care services and relevant publicly available data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (CIPH) and the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF). All hospital admissions for acute psychiatric patients in Croatia were tracked during both periods under study. Results During the pandemic, the average number of all such cases decreased by 28% in secondary and tertiary hospitals, and by 11% in specialist psychiatric hospitals. It was also found that during COVID-19, there was a decrease in case numbers in DRG classes related to major affective disorders and anxiety, alcohol, and drug intoxication (31, 48, 34 and 45%, respectively). However, the same period saw an increase in hospital activity for eating disorders and for involuntary admissions related to schizophrenia and paranoia (30, 34 and 39% respectively). There were no changes in the admission rate for cases related to opioid use. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in both a steep decrease in the overall number of psychiatric cases inpatient treatment at mental health facilities and their DRG casemix. Increasing our understanding of how pandemics and isolation affect demand for psychiatric care will help us better plan for future crises and provide more targeted care to this vulnerable group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kalanj
- Department of Medical Oncology, Clinic of Oncology, Clinical Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
- Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Ćurković
- University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirta Peček
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Stjepan Orešković
- Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Rick Marshall
- Epidemiologist and Independent Consultant in Health System Funding Models, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS, Australia
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Mehra K, Rup J, Wiese JL, Watson TM, Bonato S, Rueda S. Changes in self-reported cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2139. [PMID: 37915021 PMCID: PMC10621278 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17068-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting mental health and substance use (MHSU) issues worldwide. The purpose of this study was to characterize the literature on changes in cannabis use during the pandemic and the factors associated with such changes. METHODS We conducted a scoping review by searching peer-reviewed databases and grey literature from January 2020 to May 2022 using the Arksey and O'Malley Framework. Two independent reviewers screened a total of 4235 documents. We extracted data from 129 documents onto a data extraction form and collated results using content analytical techniques. RESULTS Nearly half (48%) of the studies reported an increase/initiation of cannabis use, while 36% studies reported no change, and 16% reported a decrease/cessation of cannabis use during the pandemic. Factors associated with increased cannabis use included socio-demographic factors (e.g., younger age), health related factors (e.g., increased symptom burden), MHSU factors (e.g., anxiety, depression), pandemic-specific reactions (e.g., stress, boredom, social isolation), cannabis-related factors (e.g., dependence), and policy-related factors (e.g., legalization of medical/recreational cannabis). CONCLUSION Public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to significantly impact cannabis use. The pandemic has placed urgency on improving coping mechanisms and supports that help populations adapt to major and sudden life changes. To better prepare health care systems for future pandemics, wide-reaching education on how pandemic-related change impacts cannabis use is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamna Mehra
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Jennifer Rup
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Jessica L Wiese
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Tara Marie Watson
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada
| | - Sarah Bonato
- Library Services, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada
| | - Sergio Rueda
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada.
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada.
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada.
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12
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Adam M, Moran JK, Kippe YD, Schouler-Ocak M, Bermpohl F, Gutwinski S, Goldschmidt T. Increase in presentations with new-onset psychiatric disorders in a psychiatric emergency department in Berlin, Germany during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic - a retrospective cross-sectional study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1240703. [PMID: 37904853 PMCID: PMC10613500 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1240703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While numerous studies have identified an increase in symptoms of depression as well as anxiety and distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, relatively few studies have investigated the new-onset of psychiatric diseases during the pandemic. Methods This study focuses on the number of psychiatric new-onset diagnoses in a psychiatric emergency department (pED) in Berlin, Germany during the second wave of the pandemic (i.e. from 09/15/2020 to 03/01/2021 = COVID-19-period) compared to pre-pandemic times (09/15/2019 to 03/01/2020 = control period). We focused on diagnostic subgroups and performed logistic regression analysis to investigate potential risk groups based on covariables such as age, gender, homelessness, attending in police custody and familial relationship. Results Overall, there was a 59.7% increase in new-onset psychiatric diagnoses during the COVID-19-period. Increases in the following diagnoses were observed: new-onset of substance-related and addictive disorders (+192.5%), depressive disorders (+115.8%), schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorders (+113.3%) and anxiety disorders (+63.6%). These diagnostic subgroups, together with attending in police custody, were found to predict pED presentations with new-onset during the COVID-19-period. Interestingly, in the group of new-onset psychiatric diseases in the COVID-19-period, higher amounts of job loss and living alone as well as a relative decrease in familial relationships were observed. Discussion COVID-19 infections and post-COVID-19 syndrome are unlikely to have played a substantial role in the increase of new-onset diseases in this study. Conclusion: Our findings underline the role of indirect factors in new-onset of psychiatric diseases during the pandemic and should be a caveat for future pandemic control policies.
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Tao J, Yan J, Su H, Huang C, Tong S, Ho HC, Xia Q, Zhu C, Zheng H, Hossain MZ, Cheng J. Impacts of PM 2.5 before and after COVID-19 outbreak on emergency mental disorders: A population-based quasi-experimental and case-crossover study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 334:122175. [PMID: 37437758 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a great challenge to mental health, but fine particulate matter (PM2.5), an increasingly reported risk factor for mental disorders, has been greatly alleviated during the pandemic in many countries. It remains unknown whether COVID-19 outbreak can affect the association between PM2.5 exposure and the risk of mental disorders. This study aimed to investigate the associations of total and cause-specific mental disorders with PM2.5 exposure before and after the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Data on daily emergency department visits (EDVs) and hospitalizations of mental disorders from 2016 to 2021 were obtained from Anhui Mental Health Center for Hefei city. An interrupted time series analysis was used to quantify the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on EDVs and hospitalizations of mental disorders. A time-stratified case-crossover analysis was employed to evaluate the association of mental disorders with PM2.5 exposure before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, especially in the three months following the COVID-19 outbreak. After COVID-19 outbreak, there was an immediate and significant decrease in total mental disorders, including a reduction of 15% (95% CI: 3%-26%) in EDVs and 44% (95% CI: 36%-51%) in hospitalizations. PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased risk of EDVs and hospitalizations for total and cause-specific mental disorders (schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders; neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders) before COVID-19 outbreak, but this PM2.5-related risk elevation significantly decreased after COVID-19 outbreak, with greater risk reduction at the first month after the outbreak. However, young people (0-45 years) were still vulnerable to PM2.5 exposure after the COVID-19 outbreak. This study first reveals that the risk of PM2.5-related emergency mental disorders decreased after the COVID-19 outbreak in China. The low concentration of PM2.5 might benefit mental health and greater efforts are required to mitigate air pollution in the post-COVID-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwen Tao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, Hefei, China
| | - Junwei Yan
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China; Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Hong Su
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, Hefei, China
| | - Cunrui Huang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shilu Tong
- National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China; School of Public Health, Institute of Environment and Population Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Centre of Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Hung Chak Ho
- Department of Public and International Affairs, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qingrong Xia
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China; Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Cuizhen Zhu
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China; Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Department of Environmental Health, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Mohammad Zahid Hossain
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jian Cheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, Hefei, China.
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14
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Villarreal-Zegarra D, Reátegui-Rivera CM, Otazú-Alfaro S, Yantas-Alcantara G, Soto-Becerra P, Melendez-Torres GJ. Estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and treatment of depressive symptoms in Peru: an interrupted time series analysis in 2014-2021. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2023; 58:1375-1385. [PMID: 36884090 PMCID: PMC9993377 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02446-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic increased the burden of mental disorders worldwide. Peru has been one of the countries most affected by COVID-19, however, studies evaluating the medium and long-term consequences of the pandemic on Peruvians' mental health are recent and represent a new field of study in proliferation. We aimed to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and treatment of depressive symptoms using nationally representative surveys in Peru. METHODS Our study is an analysis of secondary data. We carried out a time series cross-sectional analysis based on the National Demographic and Health Survey of Peru, collected using a complex sampling design. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to measure mild (5-9 points), moderate (10-14 points), and severe (15 points or more) depressive symptoms. The participants were men and women aged 15 years and older, living in urban and rural areas of all regions of Peru. The main statistical analysis used segmented regression with Newey-West standard errors, taking into account that each year of the evaluation was divided into four measures (quarter measure). RESULTS We included 259,516 participants. An average quarterly increase of 0.17% (95% CI 0.03-0.32%) in the prevalence of moderate depressive symptoms was identified after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (approximately an increase of 1583 new cases of moderate depressive symptoms by each quarter). The percentage of cases treated for mild depressive symptoms increased quarterly by an average of 0.46% (95% CI 0.20-0.71%) after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (approximately an increase of 1242 new cases treated for mild depressive symptoms by each quarter). CONCLUSION In Peru, increases in the prevalence of moderate depressive symptoms and the proportion of cases treated with mild depressive symptoms were found after the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study is a precedent for future research assessing the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the proportion of cases receiving treatment during the pandemic and post-pandemic years.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Villarreal-Zegarra
- Escuela de Medicina, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo, Peru
- Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica, Lima, Peru
| | - C. Mahony Reátegui-Rivera
- Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica, Lima, Peru
- Unidad de Telesalud, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
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Hartnett Y, Alshurafa K, McAndrew J, Daly D, Alsaffar M, Cotter D, Cannon M, MacHale S, Murphy KC, Barry H. One year of psychiatric presentations to a hospital emergency department during COVID-19. Ir J Psychol Med 2023; 40:411-417. [PMID: 35285434 DOI: 10.1017/ipm.2022.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the impact of the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions on the volume and nature of psychiatric presentations to an emergency department (ED) in a large academic hospital. METHODS Anonymised clinical data on psychiatric presentations to the ED were collected for the 52-week period from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and compared with corresponding 1 year periods in 2019 and 2018. RESULTS There was a significant increase in psychiatric presentations overall to the ED during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years, in contrast to a reduction in total presentations for all other specialties. There was a marked increase in psychiatric presentations of those below 18 years, and in the 30-39 years and 40-49 years age groups, but a decrease in the 18-29 years group. There was a significant increase in anxiety disorder presentations but a decrease in alcohol related presentations. There was no significant change observed in the rates of presentations for self-harm or suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS Psychiatric presentations to the ED have increased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in contrast to a decrease in presentations for other medical specialties, with this increase being driven by out-of-hours presentations. The fourfold increase in presentations of young people below the age of 18 years to the ED with mental health difficulties is an important finding and suggests a disproportionate burden of psychological strain placed on this group during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Hartnett
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | | | - Joseph McAndrew
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Darren Daly
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | | | - David Cotter
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary Cannon
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Siobhan MacHale
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kieran C Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Helen Barry
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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Ahmed N, Barnett P, Greenburgh A, Pemovska T, Stefanidou T, Lyons N, Ikhtabi S, Talwar S, Francis ER, Harris SM, Shah P, Machin K, Jeffreys S, Mitchell L, Lynch C, Foye U, Schlief M, Appleton R, Saunders KRK, Baldwin H, Allan SM, Sheridan-Rains L, Kharboutly O, Kular A, Goldblatt P, Stewart R, Kirkbride JB, Lloyd-Evans B, Johnson S. Mental health in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review. Lancet Psychiatry 2023; 10:537-556. [PMID: 37321240 PMCID: PMC10259832 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(23)00113-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused immediate and far-reaching disruption to society, the economy, and health-care services. We synthesised evidence on the effect of the pandemic on mental health and mental health care in high-income European countries. We included 177 longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional studies comparing prevalence or incidence of mental health problems, mental health symptom severity in people with pre-existing mental health conditions, or mental health service use before versus during the pandemic, or between different timepoints of the pandemic. We found that epidemiological studies reported higher prevalence of some mental health problems during the pandemic compared with before it, but that in most cases this increase reduced over time. Conversely, studies of health records showed reduced incidence of new diagnoses at the start of the pandemic, which further declined during 2020. Mental health service use also declined at the onset of the pandemic but increased later in 2020 and through 2021, although rates of use did not return to pre-pandemic levels for some services. We found mixed patterns of effects of the pandemic on mental health and social outcome for adults already living with mental health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiso Ahmed
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Phoebe Barnett
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK; Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, University College London, London, UK; National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK
| | - Anna Greenburgh
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tamara Pemovska
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Theodora Stefanidou
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Natasha Lyons
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Ikhtabi
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Shivangi Talwar
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Emma R Francis
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Samantha M Harris
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Prisha Shah
- Lived Experience Working Group, University College London, London, UK
| | - Karen Machin
- Lived Experience Working Group, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Jeffreys
- Lived Experience Working Group, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lizzie Mitchell
- Lived Experience Working Group, University College London, London, UK
| | - Chris Lynch
- Lived Experience Working Group, University College London, London, UK
| | - Una Foye
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Merle Schlief
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Appleton
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Katherine R K Saunders
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Helen Baldwin
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sophie M Allan
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough National Health Service Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Luke Sheridan-Rains
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Ariana Kular
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Peter Goldblatt
- Institute of Health Equity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Robert Stewart
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Brynmor Lloyd-Evans
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sonia Johnson
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit, University College London, London, UK; Camden and Islington National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, UK
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17
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Cheng H, Wang D, Wang L, Zou H, Qu Y. Global prevalence of self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:149. [PMID: 37147683 PMCID: PMC10160734 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01181-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 and its transmission mitigation measures have caused widespread mental health problems. Previous studies have suggested that psychological, economic, behavioral, and psychosocial problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a rise in self-harm. However, little is known about the prevalence of self-harm worldwide during COVID-19. Therefore, a quantitative synthesis is needed to reach an overall conclusion regarding the prevalence of self-harm during the pandemic. METHODS By using permutations of COVID-19, self-harm or relevant search terms, we searched the following electronic databases from November 2019 to January 2022: Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database and systematically reviewed the evidence according to MOOSE guidelines. We employed Cochran's chi-squared test (Cochran's Q), I2test and subgroup analysis to assess and address the heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by eliminating each included study individually and then combining the effects. RESULTS Sixteen studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified, with sample sizes ranging from 228 to 49,227. The methodological quality of the included studies was mostly at the medium level. By using a random effect model, the pooled prevalence of self-harm was 15.8% (95% CI 13.3-18.3). Based on subgroup analysis, the following characteristics of the included studies were more likely to have a higher prevalence of self-harm: studies conducted in Asia or prior to July 2020, cross-sectional studies, samples recruited in hospitals or schools, adolescents, females, the purpose of self-harm (NSSI), mental symptoms and restriction experiences. CONCLUSIONS We provided the first meta-analytic estimated prevalence of self-harm based on a large sample from different countries and populations. The prevalence of self-harm during COVID-19 was not encouraging and requires attention and intervention. Further high-quality and prospective research are needed in order to determine the prevalence of self-harm with greater accuracy because to the clear heterogeneity across the included studies. In addition, this study also provides new directions for future research, including the identification of high-risk groups for self-harm, the formulation and implementation of prevention and intervention programs, and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on self-harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Cheng
- Department of Nursing, Peking University First Hospital, No. 8 Xi Shi Ku Street, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Di Wang
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 69 Mei Shan Road, ShuShan District, Hefei, 230031, Anhui Province, China
| | - Lu Wang
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 69 Mei Shan Road, ShuShan District, Hefei, 230031, Anhui Province, China.
| | - Haiou Zou
- School of Nursing, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No. 33 Badachu Road, Shi Jing Shan District, Beijing, 100144, China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Department of Nursing, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Nandian Road, Chang Ping District, Beijing, 102208, China
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de Diego Ruiz H, García LS, Rodríguez Girón M, Carpintero BL, Morán TV, Cabeza IG. Psychiatric Admissions in a Large Hospital in Madrid during COVID-19 Lockdown: Was There a Change in Patient Profile? ACTAS ESPANOLAS DE PSIQUIATRIA 2023; 51:76-83. [PMID: 37218102 PMCID: PMC10803839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 led to a reorganization of health care in Madrid. The objective of this study is to describe the sociodemographic and clinical profile of psychiatric patients admitted to Gregorio Marañón Hospital during lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor de Diego Ruiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor
| | - Laura Santos García
- Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón
| | - Martín Rodríguez Girón
- Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón
| | | | - Teresa Velasco Morán
- Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón
| | - Ignacio García Cabeza
- Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Professor at the Complutense University of Madrid
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Tian Z, Qu W, Zhao Y, Zhu X, Wang Z, Tan Y, Jiang R, Tan S. Predicting depression and anxiety of Chinese population during COVID-19 in psychological evaluation data by XGBoost. J Affect Disord 2023; 323:417-425. [PMID: 36462608 PMCID: PMC9710109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the onset of sudden stress, COVID-19 has greatly impacted the incidence of depression and anxiety. However, challenges still exist in identifying high-risk groups for depression and anxiety during COVID-19. Studies have identified how resilience and social support can be employed as effective predictors of depression and anxiety. This study aims to select the best combination of variables from measures of resilience, social support, and alexithymia for predicting depression and anxiety. METHODS The eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost1) model was applied to a dataset including data on 29,841 participants that was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discriminant analyses on groups of participants with depression (DE2), anxiety (AN3), comorbid depression and anxiety (DA4), and healthy controls (HC5), were performed. All variables were selected according to their importance for classification. Further, analyses were performed with selected features to determine the best variable combination. RESULTS The mean accuracies achieved by three classification tasks, DE vs HC, AN vs HC, and DA vs HC, were 0.78, 0.77, and 0.89. Further, the combination of 19 selected features almost exhibited the same performance as all 56 variables (accuracies = 0.75, 0.75, and 0.86). CONCLUSIONS Resilience, social support, and some demographic data can accurately distinguish DE, AN, and DA from HC. The results can be used to inform screening practices for depression and anxiety. Additionally, the model performance of a limited scale including only 19 features indicates that using a simplified scale is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanxiao Tian
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Wei Qu
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Yanli Zhao
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhu
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Zhiren Wang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Ronghuan Jiang
- The First Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, No.100 West Fourth Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Shuping Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing 100096, China.
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20
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Bodini L, Bonetto C, Maccagnani A, Bonora A, Polati E, Ricci G, Paolillo C, Amaddeo F, Lasalvia A. Changes in emergency psychiatric consultations in time of COVID-19: a retrospective observational study in the Verona Academic Hospital over the two pandemic years 2020-2021. BMC Emerg Med 2023; 23:18. [PMID: 36792989 PMCID: PMC9930055 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-023-00788-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, local health authorities in most Italian regions prescribed a reduction of ordinary outpatient and community mental health care. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to the emergency departments (ED) for psychiatric consultation in the pandemic years 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. METHODS This is a retrospective study conducted by using routinely collected administrative data of the two EDs of the Verona Academic Hospital Trust (Verona, Italy). All ED psychiatry consultations registered from 01.01.2020 to 31.12.2021 were compared with those registered in the pre-pandemic year (01.01.2019 to 31.12.2019). The association between each recorded characteristic and the year considered was estimated by chi-square or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS A significant reduction was observed between 2020 and 2019 (-23.3%) and between 2021 and 2019 (-16.3%). This reduction was most evident in the lockdown period of 2020 (-40.3%) and in the phase corresponding to the second and third pandemic waves (-36.1%). In 2021, young adults and people with diagnosis of psychosis showed an increase in requests for psychiatric consultation. CONCLUSIONS Fear of contagion may have been an important factor in the overall reduction in psychiatric consultations. However, psychiatric consultations for people with psychosis and for young adults increased. This finding underlines the need for mental health services to implement alternative outreach strategies aimed to support, in times of crisis, these vulnerable segments of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Bodini
- grid.5611.30000 0004 1763 1124Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonetto
- grid.5611.30000 0004 1763 1124Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Maccagnani
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XUOC Pronto Soccorso, Policlinico “G.B. Rossi”, DAI Emergenza e Terapie Intensive, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Bonora
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XUOC Pronto Soccorso, Policlinico “G.B. Rossi”, DAI Emergenza e Terapie Intensive, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Enrico Polati
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care B, University of Verona, DAI Emergenza e Terapie Intensive, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ricci
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XUOC Pronto Soccorso, Ospedale Civile Maggiore, DAI Emergenza e Terapie Intensive, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ciro Paolillo
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XUOC Pronto Soccorso, Ospedale Civile Maggiore, DAI Emergenza e Terapie Intensive, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesco Amaddeo
- grid.5611.30000 0004 1763 1124Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy ,grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XUOC Psicosomatica e Psicologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Lasalvia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. .,UOC Psichiatria, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) di Verona, Verona, Italy.
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21
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Kim J, Rao N, Collins A, Eboh T, Chugh J, Sheladia S, Naguib TH. Retrospective Study of Psychiatric Hospitalizations in a West Texas Mental Health Treatment Facility during the COVID-19 Pandemic. South Med J 2023; 116:170-175. [PMID: 36724531 PMCID: PMC9897119 DOI: 10.14423/smj.0000000000001514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The association between the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and adverse mental health outcomes has been well documented; however, little is known about its impact in rural areas of the United States. This study aims to characterize and compare inpatient psychiatric admissions in West Texas before and during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted using the electronic health records of 1392 inpatient psychiatric admissions from period A (March 13, 2019-July 3, 2019) to period B (March 13, 2020-July 3, 2020). RESULTS During period B, there was a significant increase in the length of stay (P < 0.01) compared with period A. The pandemic was associated with an increased history of psychiatric medication use (P < 0.01), substance use (P ≤ 0.01), and suicide risk at the time of admission (P < 0.01). Significant differences were found in employment status (P < 0.01), living situation (P < 0.01), and ethnicity (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Rural communities in West Texas experienced a decrease in psychiatric hospitalizations during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by an increase as lockdown restrictions began to lift; this warrants further investigation into healthcare service utilization during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Kim
- From the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Nikita Rao
- the School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
| | - Alex Collins
- the School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
| | - Tochi Eboh
- the School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
| | - Julie Chugh
- the School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
| | - Shyam Sheladia
- the School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
| | - Tarek H Naguib
- the Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo
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22
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Goldschmidt T, Kippe Y, Finck A, Adam M, Hamadoun H, Winkler JG, Bermpohl F, Schouler-Ocak M, Gutwinski S. Psychiatric presentations and admissions during the first wave of Covid-19 compared to 2019 in a psychiatric emergency department in Berlin, Germany: a retrospective chart review. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:38. [PMID: 36639626 PMCID: PMC9839445 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04537-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most studies agree that the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown had a negative impact on mental health. On the other hand, international studies have shown that psychiatric emergency departments (pED) experienced a decrease in presentations and admissions. METHODS Retrospective chart review of all pED presentations and admissions during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic in Germany (Covid-19 period: 3/2/20 to 05/24/20) in a psychiatric hospital in Berlin compared to 1 year earlier (pre-Covid-19 period). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS We observed no statistical significant changes in overall pED presentations and overall hospital admissions during the Covid-19 period compared to the pre-Covid-19 period (813 vs. 894, - 9.1%, p = 0.064 and (363 vs. 437, - 16.9%, p = 0.080 respectively). In the subgroup analysis, less patients with depressive disorders (p = 0.035) and with personality disorders (p = 0.002) presented to the pED, a larger number of presentations with schizophrenia was observed (p = 0.020). In the Covid-19 period, less patients with substance use disorder and paranoid schizophrenia were admitted to the hospital via the pED than in the pre-Covid-19 period (p = 0.035 and p = 0.006, respectively). Bed capacity was reduced in the Covid-19 period by - 32.8% (p < 0.001). Presentations in police custody were 13.7% (p = 0.029) higher during the Covid-19 compared to pre-Covid-19 period, with higher rates in female presentations (p = 0.008) and suicide attempts (p = 0.012) and less hospital admissions (p = 0.048). Logistic regression analyses revealed that positive predictors for pED presentation during Covid-19 period were police custody (p < 0.001), being redirected from another hospital (p < 0.001), suicide attempt (p = 0.038), suicidal thoughts (p = 0.004), presentation with paranoid schizophrenia (p = 0.001) and bipolar and manic disorders (p = 0.004), negative predictors were hospital admission (p < 0.001), depressive disorders (p = 0.021) and personality disorders (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS A larger number of presentations in police custody during the Covid-19 period may represent untreated medical needs. This was seen predominantly in female patients, suggesting this subgroup might have suffered particularly under lockdown measures. Patients with paranoid schizophrenia were the only subgroup, which increased in absolute numbers, also suggesting a particular lockdown effect. Reduced bed capacity due to infection curbing measures is suggestive to have played an important role in augmenting the threshold for hospital admissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Goldschmidt
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Y Kippe
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Finck
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Adam
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - H Hamadoun
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - J G Winkler
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - F Bermpohl
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Schouler-Ocak
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - S Gutwinski
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany
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23
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First access to mental health services during COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter study. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2023; 11:100460. [PMID: 36506487 PMCID: PMC9726655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health is complex and affects a broad segment of the population. Several studies indicate that depressive, anxious and post-traumatic symptoms are common in people exposed to SARS-Cov2. METHODS 458 subjects were recruited during their first consultation in outpatient psychiatric services between June 2020 and October 2021. Post-traumatic, depressive and anxious symptoms were assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Beck Depression Inventory Scale-second edition (BDI-II), and the Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). A specific set of questions was developed, with the aim of evaluating socio-demographic variables and work, environmental and personal characteristics related to the pandemic. RESULTS Prevalence rates of clinically significant depressive, anxious and post-traumatic symptoms were 57.6%, 63.5% and 54.8%, respectively. Female gender, worsening of relationship status and financial consequences due to the pandemic were the conditions most strongly associated with the presence of psychopathology. LIMITATION The cross-sectional design of the study doesn't allow an evaluation over time of the sample. No assumption of causality can be made due to the lack of pre-pandemic assessments for the investigated variables. CONCLUSIONS The impact of the pandemic involves depressive, anxious and post-traumatic dimensions. The investigated psychopathology correlates with several variables expressing the personal and environmental changes that occurred in the population due to the COVID-19 emergency. The study is multicentric and the recruitment of participants was held in a clinical setting, providing a realistic picture of the consequences of the pandemic in clinical practice within mental health services.
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24
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Muştucu A, Güllülü RA, Mete M, Sarandöl A. The Impact of theCovid-19 Pandemic on the Admission of Psychiatric Patients in Emergency Department During the Early Pandemic Period. TURK PSIKIYATRI DERGISI = TURKISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2023; 34:235-243. [PMID: 38173324 PMCID: PMC10786354 DOI: 10.5080/u26847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions cause increasing mental health problems in both the general population and psychiatric patients. In this study, it was aimed to compare the number and characteristics of emergency psychiatric consultations in the earlypandemic period and in the same period of 2019, in order to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affects psychiatric emergencies and the health care seeking behavior of people with psychiatric disorders. METHOD A retrospective cross-sectional study was designed in which patients who applied to Emergency Department of Bursa Uludağ University and were consulted to psychiatry between 11 March 2019 - 1 September 2019 and 11 March 2020 - 1 September 2020 were included. Sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, psychiatric diagnoses, hospitalizations, psychotropic drug use and treatment compliance, frequency of admission, indications for hospitalization/ referral and suicide attempts were compared. RESULTS It was observed that the ratio of psychiatric admissions to the emergency department to all emergency department admissions was significantly higher in the early-pandemic period than in the prepandemic period. In the early-pandemic period, emergency department admissions due to depression disorders were found to be significantly lower; schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and psychotropic drug side effects were found to be significantly higher than in the prepandemic period. CONCLUSION In this study, it was shown that the COVID-19 pandemic may have a negative impact on psychiatric patients. Prompt implementation of measures to deal with the psychiatric effects of the pandemic, using online health services, developing coping strategies and identifying early signs of psychiatric illness exacerbations can reduce the negative effects of this stressful period on vulnerable individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anıl Muştucu
- MD, Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Rümeysa Ayşe Güllülü
- MD, Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Melek Mete
- AssisMD, Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Aslı Sarandöl
- Prof., Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bursa, Turkey
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25
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Ullrich H, Kirchner H, Hulsmans N, Müller H, Pajonk FGB. [What Influence did the Lockdown 2020 have on the Use of a Central Emergency Room by Psychiatric Emergency Patients]. PSYCHIATRISCHE PRAXIS 2023; 50:29-35. [PMID: 35878615 DOI: 10.1055/a-1896-8129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19 disease) poses major challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. The aim of this work was to identify the impact on psychiatric emergency presentations in an ED during the implemented lockdown. METHODS A retrospective survey of all psychiatric emergency presentations in the ED during the lockdown was conducted. The same period in 2019 served as the reference year. RESULTS There was a decrease in psychiatric patients. Changes were observed in the age and diagnoses. CONCLUSION Some clear effects of the lockdown on psychiatric emergencies in an ED setting can be described. However, the changes were smaller than in other countries with other health care systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Ullrich
- Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Kreisklinikum Siegen gGmbH
| | - Heribert Kirchner
- Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Fakultät für Gesundheit, LWL-Klinik, Münster
| | | | - Helge Müller
- Fakultät für Gesundheit, Universität Witten/Herdecke
| | - Frank-Gerald B Pajonk
- Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Praxis Isartal, Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
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26
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Bruckner TA, Huo S, Huynh M, Du S, Young A, Ro A. Psychiatric Emergencies in Los Angeles County During, and After, Initial COVID-19 Societal Restrictions: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis. Community Ment Health J 2022; 59:622-630. [PMID: 36509936 PMCID: PMC9744376 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-022-01043-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Emergency department (ED) visits for psychiatric care in the US reportedly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work, however, does not control for strong temporal patterning in visits before the pandemic and does not examine a potential "rebound" in demand for psychiatric care following the relaxation of initial societal restrictions. Here, we examine COVID-19-related perturbations in psychiatric care during and after the 1st stage of societal restrictions in the largest safety-net hospital in Los Angeles. We retrieved psychiatric ED visit data (98,888 total over 156 weeks, Jan 2018 to Dec 2020) from Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. We applied interrupted time series methods to identify and control for autocorrelation in psychiatric ED visits before examining their relation with the 1st stage of societal restrictions (i.e., March 13 to May 8, 2020), as well as the subsequent "rebound" period of relaxed restrictions (i.e., after May 8, 2020). Psychiatric ED visits fell by 78.13 per week (i.e., 12%) during the 1st stage of societal restrictions (SD = 23.99, p < 0.01). Reductions in ED visits for alcohol use, substance use, and (to a lesser extent) anxiety disorders accounted for the overall decline. After the 1st stage of societal restrictions, however, we observe no "rebound" above expected values in psychiatric ED visits overall (coef = - 16.89, SD = 20.58, p = 0.41) or by diagnostic subtype. This pattern of results does not support speculation that, at the population level, foregoing ED care during initial societal restrictions subsequently induced a psychiatric "pandemic" of urgent visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim A Bruckner
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, USA.
| | - Shutong Huo
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Michael Huynh
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Senxi Du
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Andrew Young
- Harbor UCLA Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Annie Ro
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, USA
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27
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Duncan A, Herrera CN, Okobi M, Nandi S, Oblath R. Locked down or locked out? Trends in psychiatric emergency services utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Health Serv Res Policy 2022; 28:80-88. [PMID: 36475326 PMCID: PMC9732494 DOI: 10.1177/13558196221135119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate changes in Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST) psychiatric emergency services (PES) encounter volume (total and by care team) and inpatient disposition during the first 8 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Data on 30,657 PES encounters was extracted from the four-county, BEST reporting system. The study period consisted of the first 34 weeks of 2019 and 2020. This period corresponded to the first five stages of Massachusetts's COVID-19 public health restrictions: pre-lockdown, lockdown, Phase I, II and III reopenings. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed to estimate changes in encounter volume by care team and disposition. RESULTS Compared to the same period in 2019, covariate-adjusted, weekly PES encounters decreased by 39% (β = -0.40, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = [-0.51, -0.28], p < 0.00) during the lockdown. PES volume remained significantly lower during Phase I reopening compared to the previous year but returned to 2019 levels during Phase II. The covariate-adjusted proportion of weekly encounters that led to inpatient admission significantly increased by 16% (CI = [0.11, 0.21], p < 0.00) for mobile crisis teams (MCTs) and significantly declined by 13% (CI = [-0.19, -0.07], p < 0.00) for BEST-designated emergency departments during the lockdown period compared to the prior year. CONCLUSIONS The overall drop in PES utilization and the rise in inpatient admissions for MCT encounters suggests that during the early phases of the pandemic, patients delayed psychiatric care until they had a psychiatric crisis. Public health messaging about the lockdowns and absent equivalent messaging about the availability of telehealth services may have made patients more reluctant to seek psychiatric care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Duncan
- Director, Psychiatric Emergency Services, Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts, USA.,Assistant Professor, 1836Boston Univeristy Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carolina-Nicole Herrera
- Doctoral Candidate, Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, 27118Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Margaret Okobi
- Medical Student, 1811Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Candidate, Masters of Public Health, 1848TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shurobhi Nandi
- Undergraduate, 1848Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel Oblath
- Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Psychiatry, 1836Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts, USA
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28
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Zhu Y, Li Y, Xu X. Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in psychiatric patients during the COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res 2022; 317:114837. [PMID: 36113254 PMCID: PMC9472469 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Current suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic were studied through systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched the following electronic databases using the relevant search terms: Medline, Embase, PubMed and Web of Science, with the search time as of January 31,2022. Forest plots were obtained using Stata statistical software and a random-effects model was used to conduct a meta-analysis of the prevalence of suicidal ideation. We found 21 eligible studies, 11 of which provided suitable data for meta-analysis. 10 studies explored current suicidal ideation and reported a pooled prevalence of 20.4% (95%CI 14.0-26.8). Six studies examined suicide attempts, with a pooled prevalence of 11.4% (95%CI 6.2-16.6). The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts varied by the study method used and by the study sites. This work highlights the need for real-time monitoring of suicidal ideation and suicide in psychiatric patients during the covid-19 pandemic r to inform clinical practice and help identify research questions for future epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqian Zhu
- Medical College, Nantong University,19th Qixiu Road, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yanqing Li
- Medical College, Nantong University,19th Qixiu Road, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xiuqun Xu
- Department of Nursing, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20th Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, China.
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29
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Asper M, Osika W, Dalman C, Pöllänen E, Simonsson O, Flodin P, Sidorchuk A, Marchetti L, Awil F, Castro R, Niemi ME. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and previous pandemics, epidemics and economic crises on mental health: systematic review. BJPsych Open 2022; 8:e181. [PMID: 36214114 PMCID: PMC9551492 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A rise in mental illness is expected to follow the COVID-19 pandemic, which has also been projected to lead to a deep global economic recession, further adding to risk factors. AIMS The aim of this review was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and previous pandemics, epidemics and economic crises on mental health. METHOD Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Sociological Abstracts. We included studies of all populations exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other similar pandemics/epidemics and economic crises, compared with non-exposed time periods or regions. The outcome was mental health. RESULTS The 174 included studies assessed mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (87 studies), 2008 economic crisis (84 studies) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic (three studies). Outcomes were divided into affective disorders, suicides, mental healthcare utilisation and other mental health. COVID-19 pandemic studies were of lesser quality than those for the economic crisis or SARS epidemic. Most studies for all exposures showed increases in affective disorders and other mental health problems. For economic crisis exposure, increases in mental healthcare utilisation and suicides were also found, but these findings were mixed for COVID-19 pandemic exposure. This is probably because of quarantine measures affecting help-seeking and shorter follow-ups of studies of COVID-19 pandemic exposure. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the importance of available, accessible and sustainable mental health services. Also, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations should be particular targets of policy interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Asper
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Walter Osika
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christina Dalman
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Elin Pöllänen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Otto Simonsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Pär Flodin
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Anna Sidorchuk
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Rosa Castro
- Federation of European Academies of Medicine, Belgium
| | - Maria E Niemi
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
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Steeg S, John A, Gunnell DJ, Kapur N, Dekel D, Schmidt L, Knipe D, Arensman E, Hawton K, Higgins JPT, Eyles E, Macleod-Hall C, McGuiness LA, Webb RT. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on presentations to health services following self-harm: systematic review. Br J Psychiatry 2022; 221:603-612. [PMID: 35816104 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2022.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare presentations for self-harm has accumulated rapidly. However, existing reviews do not include studies published beyond 2020. AIMS To systematically review evidence on presentations to health services following self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD A comprehensive search of databases (WHO COVID-19 database; Medline; medRxiv; Scopus; PsyRxiv; SocArXiv; bioRxiv; COVID-19 Open Research Dataset, PubMed) was conducted. Studies published from 1 January 2020 to 7 September 2021 were included. Study quality was assessed with a critical appraisal tool. RESULTS Fifty-one studies were included: 57% (29/51) were rated as 'low' quality, 31% (16/51) as 'moderate' and 12% (6/51) as 'high-moderate'. Most evidence (84%, 43/51) was from high-income countries. A total of 47% (24/51) of studies reported reductions in presentation frequency, including all six rated as high-moderate quality, which reported reductions of 17-56%. Settings treating higher lethality self-harm were overrepresented among studies reporting increased demand. Two of the three higher-quality studies including study observation months from 2021 reported reductions in self-harm presentations. Evidence from 2021 suggests increased numbers of presentations among adolescents, particularly girls. CONCLUSIONS Sustained reductions in numbers of self-harm presentations were seen into the first half of 2021, although this evidence is based on a relatively small number of higher-quality studies. Evidence from low- and middle-income countries is lacking. Increased numbers of presentations among adolescents, particularly girls, into 2021 is concerning. Findings may reflect changes in thresholds for help-seeking, use of alternative sources of support and variable effects of the pandemic across groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Steeg
- Centre for Mental Health and Safety, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, UK; and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK
| | - Ann John
- Medical School, Swansea University, UK; and Public Health Wales NHS Trust, UK
| | - David J Gunnell
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK; and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, UK
| | - Nav Kapur
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, UK;NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, UK; and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Dana Dekel
- Department of Population Psychiatry, Suicide and Informatics, Swansea University, UK
| | - Lena Schmidt
- Sciome LLC, North Carolina, USA; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Duleeka Knipe
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Ella Arensman
- School of Public Health and National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Ireland; and Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Australia
| | - Keith Hawton
- Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK; and Warneford Hospital, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Julian P T Higgins
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK; and Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Emily Eyles
- National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK; and Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | | | - Luke A McGuiness
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Roger T Webb
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, UK; and NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, UK
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Chong WWY, Acar ZI, West ML, Wong F. A Scoping Review on the Medical and Recreational Use of Cannabis During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 7:591-602. [PMID: 34981958 PMCID: PMC9587770 DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Introduction: The shelter-in-place orders and social distancing regulations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted lifestyles, including the use of cannabis. The purpose of this scoping review is to summarize both the gray and academic literature on the use of cannabis during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A total of 11 databases, including 2 medical databases, 7 social science databases, and 2 gray literature databases were searched resulting in 316 titles and abstracts of which 76 met inclusion criteria. Results: Nine themes emerged: (a) prevalence and trends of cannabis use during COVID[1]19; (b) demographics; (c) profile of mode of consumption; (d) context of using cannabis (i.e., solitary use vs. in groups); (e) factors contributing to use; (f) factors inhibiting use; (g) adverse clinical and psychiatric outcomes of cannabis use during the pandemic; (h) similarities between EVALI (E-Cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury) and COVID-19 symptoms; (i) implications for policy and practice. Studies published until February 2, 2021 were included in this review. Discussion: Findings have highlighted that feelings of boredom, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic have contributed to an increase in the use of cannabis. Furthermore, accessibility to cannabis was noted to affect use during the pandemic. Adverse psychiatric and clinical outcomes were associated with the increased use of cannabis. Conclusion: Practitioners and policymakers are called to employ harm reduction strategies to respond to increasing cannabis use. There is a need for population-based studies and further examination of factors contributing to the increased use of cannabis during the pandemic and associated negative consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Wing-Yee Chong
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zeynep Ilgaz Acar
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meghan Lee West
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Francis Wong
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Caldiroli A, Tagliabue I, Turco M, Capuzzi E, Fortunato A, Tringali A, Montana C, Maggioni L, Pellicioli C, Sibilla M, Marcatili M, Crespi G, Colmegna F, Buoli M, Clerici M. Comparing the COVID-19-related PTSD symptoms between psychiatric patients and healthy subjects: an observational retrospective study from Northern Italy. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2022; 28:1298-1308. [PMID: 36093977 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2121971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on mental health, both in the general population and psychiatric patients. Little is known about the difference between these two populations in perceiving the pandemic as a traumatic event. The aim of the study was to compare psychiatric patients and healthy controls (HC) in terms of change over time of post-traumatic (PTSD) symptoms. Demographic and clinical variables were collected. Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R) scores were registered at T1 as lockdown period (March-April 2020) and T2 as restarting (May-June 2020). Descriptive analyses and linear regression models were performed. A total of 166 outpatients and 57 HC were recruited. Time (F = 15.76; p < 0.001) and diagnosis (F = 4.94; p < 0.001) had a significant effect on the change of IES-R scores, which resulted T1 > T2 (p < 0.001), except for subjects affected by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Overall, IES-R scores were < in patients than in HC (p = 0.02), particularly in the schizophrenia (SKZ) subgroup (p < 0.001). IES-R scores of subjects with personality disorders (PDs) resulted to be > HC, although not statistically significant. The lockdown period was perceived as more traumatic than the reopening phase by both groups, with the exception of OCD patients, probably because of the clinical worsening associated with the urge of control against risks of contamination. Overall, HC reported more PTSD symptoms than psychiatric patients did, particularly SKZ ones. PD patients, in contrast, may be more vulnerable to PTSD symptoms probably as a result of poor coping skills. Together with OCD patients, subjects with PDs may need closer monitoring during the different phases of the pandemic. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04694482.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Caldiroli
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Monza, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - I Tagliabue
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - M Turco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - E Capuzzi
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Monza, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - A Fortunato
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - A Tringali
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - C Montana
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - L Maggioni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - C Pellicioli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - M Sibilla
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - M Marcatili
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Monza, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - G Crespi
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Monza, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - F Colmegna
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Monza, Monza (MB), Italy
| | - M Buoli
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - M Clerici
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Monza, Monza (MB), Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
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Kippe YD, Adam M, Finck A, Moran JK, Schouler-Ocak M, Bermpohl F, Gutwinski S, Goldschmidt T. Suicidality in psychiatric emergency department situations during the first and the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 273:311-323. [PMID: 36071277 PMCID: PMC9451117 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01486-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric patients are prone to mental health deterioration during the Covid-19 pandemic. Little is known about suicidality in psychiatric patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study is a retrospective chart review of psychiatric emergency department (pED) presentations with present or absent suicidality (5634 pED attendances, 4110 patients) in an academic pED in Berlin, Germany. Poisson regression analysis was performed on the effect of Covid-19 period on suicidality (suicidal ideation (SI), suicide plans (SP) or suicide attempt (SA)) during the first (3/2/2020-5/24/2020 "first-wave") and second (9/15/2020-3/1/2021 "second-wave") wave of the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the same periods one year earlier. During the first-wave the number of pED visits per person with SI, SP and SA was higher compared to one year earlier (SI RR = 1.614; p = 0.016; SP RR = 2.900; p = 0.004; SA RR = 9.862; p = 0.003). SI and SP were predicted by interaction between substance use disorder (SUD) and second-wave (SI RR = 1.305, p = 0.043; SP RR = 1.645, p = 0.018), SA was predicted by interaction between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and second-wave (RR = 7.128; p = 0.012). Suicidality increased during the first-wave of Covid-19 pandemic in our sample. In the second-wave this was found in patients with SUD and BPD. These patients may be at particular risk of suicidality during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann David Kippe
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité Im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maia Adam
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité Im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Finck
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité Im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - James Kenneth Moran
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité Im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Meryam Schouler-Ocak
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité Im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Bermpohl
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité Im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Gutwinski
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité Im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Goldschmidt
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité Im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
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Deng H, Raheemullah A, Fenno LE, Lembke A. A telehealth inpatient addiction consult service is both feasible and effective in reducing readmission rates. J Addict Dis 2022:1-8. [PMID: 35819268 DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2022.2090822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic compelled fast adaptation of telehealth to addiction treatment services. This study aims to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of transitioning an in-person hospital addiction consult service (ACS) to telehealth. The Stanford Hospital ACS adapted to the pandemic by transforming an in-person ACS to a telehealth ACS. We compared 30-day readmission rates in patients with and without an addiction medicine consult pre-pandemic (in-person ACS) and during the pandemic (telehealth ACS). The ACS completed 370 and 473 unique patient consults in the year preceding (in-person consults) and during the pandemic (telehealth consults) respectively. Patients seen by telehealth ACS had decreased 30-day readmission rates consistent with those seen before COVID-19. A telehealth ACS is feasible and effective in the in-patient setting. Telehealth ACS holds promise to extend the reach of substance use disorder evaluation and treatment in underserved areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqiong Deng
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Amer Raheemullah
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Lief E Fenno
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Anna Lembke
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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35
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Turcato G, Zaboli A, Luchetti A, Sighele F, Sibilio S, Donato C, Pfeifer N, Brigo F. "Effect of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic outbreak on the emergency department admission for an acute psychiatric condition". J Psychiatr Res 2022; 151:626-632. [PMID: 35640387 PMCID: PMC9134872 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Preliminary evidence seems to suggest a reduction in absolute terms of Emergency Department (ED) admissions for an acute psychiatric condition during the first months of the pandemic. The study aimed to test through a long-term time analysis the effect of COVID-19 on changes in ED visits for an acute psychiatric condition. A quasi-experimental interrupted time series analysis of admissions for acute psychiatric conditions to the Emergency Department of the Merano Hospital (Italy) was performed from January 2017 to August 2021. The main outcome was the monthly rate of ED accesses for an acute psychiatric condition reported per 1000 general admissions. The pandemic outbreak was used as an intervention point. 4398 ED admissions for an acute psychiatric condition were registered. The rate of monthly admissions over total admissions increased from a mean of March 17, 1000 (SD 2.9) admissions per month in the pre-COVID-19 era to September 22, 1000 (SD 4.5) in the pandemic months, p < 0.001. In March 2020, the pandemic outbreak led to a significant increase in ED visits for an acute psychiatric condition (p = 0.013) and suicide attempts (p = 0.029), and to an increased need for pharmacological sedation in ED (p = 0.001). During the pandemic, although admissions and hospitalizations showed a non-significant decreasing trend, suicide attempts increased steadily and significantly. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a major increase in rates of admission to the ED for an acute psychiatric condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Turcato
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy.
| | - Arian Zaboli
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Antonio Luchetti
- Psychiatric Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Francesca Sighele
- Psychiatric Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Serena Sibilio
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Candelaria Donato
- Psychiatric Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Norbert Pfeifer
- Emergency Department, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
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Klimochkina AY, Nekhorosheva EV, Kasatkina DA. Existential Well-being, Mental Health, and COVID-19: Reconsidering the Impact of Lockdown Stressors in Moscow. PSYCHOLOGY IN RUSSIA: STATE OF ART 2022; 15:14-31. [PMID: 36699708 PMCID: PMC9833610 DOI: 10.11621/pir.2022.0202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Initial psychological papers on COVID-19, mental health and wellbeing mostly focus on the aftermath lockdown-related stress and stress related to the disease itself. Still, we presume that personal well-being can be resistant to stressors depending on the way the person is settled in their life. Objective We seek to reconsider the contribution of lockdown-related stressors to existential well-being, to assess existential well-being during the outbreak and to compare the contribution of living conditions and COVID-19-related factors on well-being. Design An online survey was conducted during the peak of the outbreak in Moscow (April-May 2020) (N=880). The data was obtained using the "Test of Existential Motivations" questionnaire and a series of questions addressing (1) living conditions - mental and physical health, employment, and social distancing; (2) COVID-19-related stressors - non-chronic illness, financial losses, and unavailability of goods or services; (3) sociodemographic indicators - age, gender, and income. Data analysis included hierarchical multiple regression, one-sample t-test, and analysis of variance. Results Surprisingly, the existential well-being of Moscow citizens during the research period was moderate. Each of the three groups of factors predicted a similar proportion of the variance of well-being (3-3,9%). The strongest predictors of well-being were long-term mental health status and financial stability. The effect of COVID-19-related stressors was most pronounced when they co-occur. Conclusion The negative association between lockdown-related stressors and poor well-being is not universal. It is necessary to study the effect of COVID-19-related stressors in combination with individual living conditions and region-specific factors and to focus on the prevention of the occurrence of stressors.
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Enrico C, Caldiroli A, Di Brita C, Colmegna F, Nava R, Colzani LC, Sibilla M, Prodi T, Buoli M, Clerici M. Profile of patients attending psychiatric emergency care during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic: a comparative cross-sectional study between lockdown and post-lockdown periods in Lombardy, Italy. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 2022; 26:132-138. [PMID: 34151680 DOI: 10.1080/13651501.2021.1939385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the long-term impact of early COVID-19 lockdown phase on emergency psychiatric consultations in two psychiatric emergency departments located in Italy. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study comparing the number and characteristics of emergency psychiatric consultations during post-lockdown with respect to the lockdown period. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, referred symptoms, diagnosis, information on multiple psychiatric consultations and hospitalisation were collected. RESULTS A rise of almost 60% in emergency psychiatric consultations during the post-lockdown compared to the lockdown period was observed. Emergency psychiatric consultations in the post-lockdown period were associated with lower rates of cannabis (aOR = 0.42, p = 0.011) and cocaine use (aOR = 0.39, p = 0.011). Despite a lower occurrence of two or more psychiatric consultations was observed during post-lockdown phase (aOR = 0.44, p = 0.008), subjects who had anxiety disorders (aOR = 3.91, p = 0.000) and substance intoxication or withdrawal (aOR = 6.89, p = 0.000) were more likely to present to emergency psychiatric consultations during post-lockdown period compared to the lockdown one. CONCLUSIONS Substance intoxication or withdrawal and anxiety disorders increased after the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings of this study suggest to address more economic and professional sources to the mental health areas potentially more affected by the different phases of a pandemic.KEYPOINTSCOVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures increased mental health unmet needs.According to our findings, a rise in emergency psychiatric consultations during the post-lockdown compared to the lockdown period was observed.Patients with substance intoxication or withdrawal syndrome and anxiety disorders were significantly more likely to present to emergency psychiatric consultations during post-lockdown.Lockdown was associated with higher rates of both cannabis and cocaine use disorders as well as of multiple psychiatric consultations.Alternative strategies to improve mental health such as e-health technologies should be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Capuzzi Enrico
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Alice Caldiroli
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Carmen Di Brita
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Colmegna
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Nava
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Lia Chiara Colzani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Matteo Sibilla
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Tiziano Prodi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Buoli
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Clerici
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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Bastide J, Barruel D, Masson VDL, Gourevitch R, Pham A. Urgences psychiatriques chez les 15–25 ans durant la première année de la crise sanitaire : une étude épidémiologique descriptive dans le plus grand centre d’urgences psychiatriques français. ANNALES MEDICO-PSYCHOLOGIQUES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.amp.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Mak IL, Wan EYF, Wong TKT, Lee WWJ, Chan EWY, Choi EPH, Chui CSL, Ip MSM, Lau WCS, Lau KK, Lee SF, Wong ICK, Yu EYT, Lam CLK. The Spill-Over Impact of the Novel Coronavirus-19 Pandemic on Medical Care and Disease Outcomes in Non-communicable Diseases: A Narrative Review. Public Health Rev 2022; 43:1604121. [PMID: 35574567 PMCID: PMC9091177 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2022.1604121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed more than 5 million lives worldwide by November 2021. Implementation of lockdown measures, reallocation of medical resources, compounded by the reluctance to seek help, makes it exceptionally challenging for people with non-communicable diseases (NCD) to manage their diseases. This review evaluates the spill-over impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with NCDs including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, dementia, mental health disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders.Methods: Literature published in English was identified from PubMed and medRxiv from January 1, 2019 to November 30, 2020. A total of 119 articles were selected from 6,546 publications found.Results: The reduction of in-person care, screening procedures, delays in diagnosis, treatment, and social distancing policies have unanimously led to undesirable impacts on both physical and psychological health of NCD patients. This is projected to contribute to more excess deaths in the future.Conclusion: The spill-over impact of COVID-19 on patients with NCD is just beginning to unravel, extra efforts must be taken for planning the resumption of NCD healthcare services post-pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy Lynn Mak
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eric Yuk Fai Wan
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Eric Yuk Fai Wan,
| | - Teenie Kwan Tung Wong
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wendy Woo Jung Lee
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Esther Wai Yin Chan
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Edmond Pui Hang Choi
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Celine Sze Ling Chui
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mary Sau Man Ip
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wallace Chak Sing Lau
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kui Kai Lau
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shing Fung Lee
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ian Chi Kei Wong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Department of Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Esther Yee Tak Yu
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cindy Lo Kuen Lam
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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DelPozo-Banos M, Lee SC, Friedmann Y, Akbari A, Torabi F, Lloyd K, Lyons RA, John A. Healthcare contacts with self-harm during COVID-19: An e-cohort whole-population-based study using individual-level linked routine electronic health records in Wales, UK, 2016-March 2021. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266967. [PMID: 35476839 PMCID: PMC9045644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Reduced rates of help seeking by those who self-harmed during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported. OBJECTIVES To understand changes in healthcare service contacts for self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic across primary, emergency and secondary care. METHODS This retrospective cohort study used routine electronic healthcare data for Wales, United Kingdom, from 2016 to March 14, 2021. Population-based data from primary care, emergency departments and hospital admissions were linked at individual-level. All Welsh residents aged ≥10 years over the study period were included in the study. Primary, emergency and secondary care contacts with self-harm at any time between 2016 and March 14, 2021 were identified. Outcomes were counts, incidence, prevalence and proportion of self-harm contacts relative to all contacts in each and all settings, as well as the proportion of people contacting one or more settings with self-harm. Weekly trends were modelled using generalised estimated equations, with differences between 2020 (to March 2021) and comparison years 2016-2018 (to March 2017-2019) quantified using difference in differences, from which mean rate of odds ratios (μROR) across years was reported. RESULTS The study included 3,552,210 individuals over the study period. Self-harm contacts reduced across services in March and December 2020 compared to previous years. Primary care contacts with self-harm reduced disproportionately compared to non-self-harm contacts (μROR = 0.7, p<0.05), while their proportion increased in emergency departments during April 2020 (μROR = 1.3, p<0.05 in 2/3 comparison years) and hospital admissions during April-May 2020 (μROR = 1.2, p<0.05 in 2/3 comparison years). Despite this, those who self-harmed in April 2020 were more likely to be seen in primary care than other settings compared to previous years (μROR = 1.2, p<0.05). A lower proportion of those with self-harm contacts in emergency departments were subsequently admitted to hospital in December 2020 compared to previous years (μROR = 0.5, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that those who self-harmed during the COVID-19 pandemic may have been less likely to seek help, and those who did so faced more stringent criteria for admission. Communications encouraging those who self-harm to seek help during pandemics may be beneficial. However, this needs to be supported by maintained provision of mental health services.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S. C. Lee
- Swansea University Medical School, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Y. Friedmann
- Swansea University Medical School, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - A. Akbari
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - F. Torabi
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - K. Lloyd
- Swansea University Medical School, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - R. A. Lyons
- Swansea University Medical School, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - A. John
- Swansea University Medical School, Wales, United Kingdom
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Carvalho S, Coelho CG, Kluwe-Schiavon B, Magalhães J, Leite J. The Acute Impact of the Early Stages of COVID-19 Pandemic in People with Pre-Existing Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095140. [PMID: 35564538 PMCID: PMC9104538 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
People with pre-pandemic health conditions are more vulnerable and more likely to suffer greater psychosocial impact due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures. Thus, the objective of this work was to systematically review the impact of the early stages COVID-19 pandemic on people with pre-existing psychiatric disorders. The search was performed between 23 January and 2 September 2021 in PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE. A total of 4167 published results were identified; however, only 49 were included in this review. Results show that there was considerable heterogeneity among studies, which resulted in a low consensus. However, it seems that the impact of the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychiatric disorders was two-fold: (1) an overall effect, in which people suffering from psychiatric disorders in general experienced more psychological distress and anxiety when compared to people who had no psychiatric diagnosis, and (2) a condition-specific effect, namely in people suffering from eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders. Moreover, the current work highlights that there were also some external factors that were related to worsening symptoms. For instance, unemployment or experiencing work and financial difficulties can be a trigger for greater distress during the pandemic for people with mood disorders, and being alone and in social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic may actually increase substance use and relapse rates. Further studies are needed to prospectively investigate the long-term effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic on people with (pre)-existing psychiatric conditions and on the onset or deterioration of psychiatric-related symptoms in a larger number of participants, as well as exploring the long-term effects of the current pandemic on mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Carvalho
- Translational Neuropsychology Laboratory, William James Center for Research, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Catarina G. Coelho
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (C.G.C.); (B.K.-S.); (J.M.)
| | - Bruno Kluwe-Schiavon
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (C.G.C.); (B.K.-S.); (J.M.)
| | - Juliana Magalhães
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (C.G.C.); (B.K.-S.); (J.M.)
| | - Jorge Leite
- Portucalense Institute for Human Development (INPP), Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
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Di Lorenzo R, Pinelli M, Bertani D, Cutino A, Dragone D, Elia C, Farina R, Fiore G, Luisi F, Panico S, Valeo L, Rovesti S, Ferri P. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Emergencies in Two Different Settings: Emergency Room and Community Mental Health Service. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:894939. [PMID: 35693974 PMCID: PMC9178082 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.894939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused a public health emergency with profound consequences on physical and mental health of individuals. Emergency Rooms (ER) and Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) played a key role in the management of psychiatric emergencies during the pandemic. The purpose of the study was to evaluate urgent psychiatric consultations (UPCs) in the ERs of the General Hospitals and in the CMHS of a Northern Italian town during the pandemic period. METHODS This monocentric observational study collected UPCs carried out in ER from 01/03/2020 to 28/02/2021 (the so called "COVID-19 period") and the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who required UPCs in the 12-months period, comparing these data with those collected from 01/03/2019 to 29/02/2020 (the so called "pre-COVID-19 period"). The same variables were collected for UPCs carried out in CMHS from 01/03/2020 to 31/01/2021 and compared with those collected from 01/03/2019 to 31/01/2020. The data, were statistically analyzed through STATA 12-2011. RESULTS In ER, we reported a 24% reduction in UPCs during the COVID-19 period (n = 909) in comparison with the pre-COVID-19 period (n = 1,194). Differently, we observed an increase of 4% in UPCs carried out in CMHS during the COVID-19 period (n = 1,214) in comparison with the previous period (n = 1,162). We observed an increase of UPCs in ER required by people who lived in psychiatric facilities or with disability pension whereas more UPCs in CMHS were required by older people or those living in other institutions compared to the previous period. In the COVID-19 period, the most frequent reasons for UPCs in ER were aggressiveness, socio-environmental maladjustment and psychiatric symptoms in organic disorders whereas in CMHS we reported an increase of UPCs for control of psychopharmacology therapy and mixed state/mania. CONCLUSION In light of our findings, we conclude that the most vulnerable people required more frequent attention and care in both ER and CMHS during pandemic, which disrupted individuals' ability to adapt and induced many stressful reactive symptoms. In order to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, psychological support interventions for the general population should be implemented, having particular regard for more psychologically fragile people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Di Lorenzo
- Service of Psychiatric Diagnosis and Care, Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Margherita Pinelli
- Community Mental Health Service, Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, AUSL Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Davide Bertani
- School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Anna Cutino
- School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Diego Dragone
- School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Claudia Elia
- School of Nursing, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Riccardo Farina
- School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Fiore
- School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Filippa Luisi
- School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Sofia Panico
- School of Nursing, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Valeo
- School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Sergio Rovesti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Paola Ferri
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Caldiroli A, Capuzzi E, Tringali A, Tagliabue I, Turco M, Fortunato A, Sibilla M, Montana C, Maggioni L, Pellicioli C, Marcatili M, Nava R, Crespi G, Colmegna F, Buoli M, Clerici M. The psychopathological impact of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic on subjects suffering from different mental disorders: An observational retrospective study. Psychiatry Res 2022; 307:114334. [PMID: 34902818 PMCID: PMC8664498 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a pulmonary disease (COVID-19) which spread worldwide generating fear, anxiety, depression in the general population as well as among subjects affected by mental disorders. Little is known about which different psychopathological changes the pandemic caused among individuals affected by different psychiatric disorders, which represents the aim of the present study. Specific psychometric scales were administered at three time points: T0 as outbreak of pandemic, T1 as lockdown period, T2 as reopening. Descriptive analyses and linear regression models were performed. A total of 166 outpatients were included. Overall, psychometric scores showed a significant worsening at T1 with a mild improvement at T2. Only psychopathology in schizophrenia (SKZ) patients and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms did not significantly improve at T2. Subjects affected by personality disorders (PDs) resulted to be more compromised in terms of general psychopathology than depressed and anxiety/OC ones, and showed more severe anxiety symptoms than SKZ patients. In conclusion, subjects affected by PDs require specific clinical attention during COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the worsening of SKZ and OC symptoms should be strictly monitored by clinicians, as these aspects did not improve with the end of lockdown measures. Further studies on larger samples are needed to confirm our results. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04694482.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Caldiroli
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Via G.B. Pergolesi 33 MB, Monza, Italy.
| | - Enrico Capuzzi
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Via G.B. Pergolesi 33 MB, Monza, Italy
| | - Agnese Tringali
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Ilaria Tagliabue
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Marco Turco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Andrea Fortunato
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Matteo Sibilla
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Caterina Montana
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Laura Maggioni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Cristian Pellicioli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Matteo Marcatili
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Via G.B. Pergolesi 33 MB, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Nava
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Via G.B. Pergolesi 33 MB, Monza, Italy
| | - Giovanna Crespi
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Via G.B. Pergolesi 33 MB, Monza, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Colmegna
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Via G.B. Pergolesi 33 MB, Monza, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Buoli
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via F. Sforza 35, Milan 20122, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Clerici
- Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Via G.B. Pergolesi 33 MB, Monza, Italy,Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore 38 MB, Monza 20900, Italy
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Carpiniello B, Vita A. Impact of COVID-19 on the Italian Mental Health System: A Narrative Review. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2022; 3:sgac038. [PMCID: PMC9619790 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgac038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Italy has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, consequently producing a heavy burden on the Italian National Health Service. From February 2020 until the end of the same year, the Italian Mental Health System (MHS), comprising an extensive network of community services, was subjected to a significant decrease in standards of care followed at the beginning of 2021 by a slow return to usual levels of activity. Data reported in the present article highlight how the Italian MHS – as was the case in the majority of countries—was largely unprepared for this emergency, suggesting an impelling need to develop appropriate supplementary national plans with the aim of preventing similar situations from developing in the future. The upheaval caused by the pandemic has highlighted the need to reinforce, both at a local and national level, the organization and standards of care of the Italian MHS in order to protect and support the mental health of patients with severe mental disorders, health workers, and the general population, thus preventing a potential “pandemic” of mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Carpiniello
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy
| | - Antonio Vita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia , Brescia , Italy
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45
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Wiegand HF, Bröcker AL, Fehr M, Lohmann N, Maicher B, Röthke N, Rueb M, Wessels P, de Greck M, Pfennig A, Unterecker S, Tüscher O, Walter H, Falkai P, Lieb K, Hölzel LP, Adorjan K. Changes and Challenges in Inpatient Mental Health Care During the First Two High Incidence Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany - Results From the COVID Ψ Psychiatry Survey. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:855040. [PMID: 35573380 PMCID: PMC9091906 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.855040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric inpatient treatment, an important pillar of mental health care, is often of longer duration in Germany than in other countries. The COVID-19 pandemic called for infection prevention and control measures and thereby led to shifts in demand and inpatient capacities. The Germany-wide COVID Ψ Psychiatry Survey surveyed department heads of German psychiatric inpatient institutions. It assessed changes in utilization during the first two high incidence phases of the pandemic (spring 2020 and winter 2020/21) and also consequences for care, telemedicine experiences, hygiene measures, treatment of patients with mental illness and co-occuring SARS-CoV-2, and coercive measures in such patients. A total of n = 71 psychiatric departments (of 346 contacted) participated in the survey. The results showed a median decrease of inpatient treatment to 80% of 2019 levels and of day hospital treatment to 50% (first phase) and 70% (second phase). Reductions were mainly due to decreases in elective admissions, and emergency admissions remained unchanged or increased in 87% of departments. Utilization was reduced for affective, anxiety, personality, and addiction disorders but appeared roughly unaffected for psychotic disorders. A lack of integration of patients into their living environment, disease exacerbations, loss of contact, and suicide attempts were reported as problems resulting from reduced capacities and insufficient outpatient treatment alternatives. Almost all departments (96%) treated patients with severe mental illness and co-occurring SARS-CoV-2 infection. The majority established special wards and separate areas for (potentially) infectious patients. Telephone and video consultations were found to provide benefits in affective and anxiety disorders. Involuntary admissions of persons without mental illness because of infection protection law violations were reported by 6% of the hospitals. The survey showed high adaptability of psychiatric departments, which managed large capacity shifts and introduced new services for infectious patients, which include telemedicine services. However, the pandemic exacerbated some of the shortcomings of the German mental health system: Avoidable complications resulted from the lack of cooperation and integrated care sequences between in- and outpatient sectors and limited options for psychiatric hospitals to provide outpatient services. Preventive approaches to handle comparable pandemic situations in the future should focus on addressing these shortcomings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hauke Felix Wiegand
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Bröcker
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mandy Fehr
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Niklas Lohmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Birgit Maicher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Röthke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mike Rueb
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Paula Wessels
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Moritz de Greck
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andrea Pfennig
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Unterecker
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Tüscher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Henrik Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Lieb
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lars Peer Hölzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Oberberg Parkklinik Schlangenbad, Wiesbaden Schlangenbad, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
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Kuljancic DP. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of the General Population and the Population of Psychiatric Patients. ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF GENERAL MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.29333/ejgm/11399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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47
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Di Lorenzo R, Fiore G, Bruno A, Pinelli M, Bertani D, Falcone P, Marrama D, Starace F, Ferri P. Urgent Psychiatric Consultations at Mental Health Center during COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Observational Study. Psychiatr Q 2021; 92:1341-1359. [PMID: 33772425 PMCID: PMC7997653 DOI: 10.1007/s11126-021-09907-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic and related social distancing measures have brought about dramatic changes in people's lives. In particular, health workers have been forced to change their activities both for the different needs of patients and for preventive measures against the spread of the virus. This study is aimed at comparing the urgent psychiatric consultations (UPC) performed at the outpatient Mental Health Center (MHC) of Modena during the coronavirus outbreak period, from 1 March to 31 August 2020, with the same period in 2019. We retrospectively collected in a database the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who required UPC in the MHC during the 6-month observation periods in both 2019 and 2020. Data were statistically analyzed. We analyzed 656 urgent psychiatric consultations in 2019 and 811 in 2020, requested by 425 patients in 2019 and 488 in 2020, respectively. In the pandemic period, we observed an increase in the total and daily number of UPC which were more frequently required by patients in care at local outpatient services in comparison with the previous period. During 2020, an increased number of UPC was carried out remotely and the outcome was more frequently represented by discharge at home, avoiding hospitalization as much as possible. In the course of the coronavirus pandemic, MHC had to face an increased demand for clinical activity especially from the most clinically and socially vulnerable patients, who more frequently required UPC in outpatient psychiatric services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Di Lorenzo
- Psychiatric Intensive Treatment Facility, Mental Health and Drug Abuse Department of AUSL-Modena, Via Paul Harris, 175, 41122 Modena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Fiore
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bruno
- School of Nursing, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Margherita Pinelli
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Davide Bertani
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Patrizia Falcone
- Psychiatric Intensive Treatment Facility, Mental Health and Drug Abuse Department of AUSL-Modena, Via Paul Harris, 175, 41122 Modena, Italy
| | - Donatella Marrama
- Mental Health and Drug Abuse Department of AUSL-Modena, Via Paul Harris, 175, 41122 Modena, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Starace
- Mental Health and Drug Abuse Department of AUSL-Modena, Italian Society of Epidemiological Psychiatry (SIEP), Viale L.A. Muratori 201, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Paola Ferri
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Via G. Campi, 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Rachamin Y, Senn O, Streit S, Dubois J, Deml MJ, Jungo KT. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Intensity of Health Services Use in General Practice: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Int J Public Health 2021; 66:635508. [PMID: 34744588 PMCID: PMC8565270 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2021.635508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to explore the impact of the Swiss shutdown in spring 2020 on the intensity of health services use in general practice. Methods: Based on an electronic medical records database, we built one patient cohort each for January-June 2019 (control, 173,523 patients) and 2020 (179,086 patients). We used linear regression to model weekly consultation counts and blood pressure (BP) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement counts per 100 patients and predicted non-shutdown values. Analyses were repeated for selected at-risk groups and different age groups. Results: During the shutdown, weekly consultation counts were lower than predicted by −17.2% (total population), −16.5% (patients with hypertension), −17.5% (diabetes), −17.6% (cardiovascular disease), −15.7% (patients aged <60 years), −20.4% (60–80 years), and −14.5% (>80 years). Weekly BP counts were reduced by −35.3% (total population) and −35.0% (hypertension), and HbA1c counts by −33.2% (total population) and −29.8% (diabetes). p-values <0.001 for all reported estimates. Conclusion: Our results document consequential decreases in consultation counts and chronic disease monitoring during the shutdown. It is crucial that health systems remain able to meet non-COVID-19-related health care needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Rachamin
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Senn
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sven Streit
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julie Dubois
- Department of Community Health, Institute of Family Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Michael J Deml
- Department of Sociology, Institute of Sociological Research, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Tabea Jungo
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Analyzing the Behavior of Cannabis Users during the COVID-19 Confinement in Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111324. [PMID: 34769848 PMCID: PMC8583130 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lives is unquestionable, including in the area of substance consumption. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the pattern of cannabis use during the Spanish COVID-19 lockdown and confinement, and to analyze the variations in the reported motives for cannabis use and withdrawal symptoms. A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted between April and May 2020, using an instrument that included two time points. Time 1 collected retrospective information on the participants’ habits (N = 89; 73% male; mean age = 29.01) prior to confinement and Time 2 collected the same information during the confinement. Sociodemographic data were collected, as well as the frequency of substance use, cannabis use patterns, sources of cannabis, perceived availability of drugs and cannabis price, and the Marijuana Motives Measure questionnaire and the Cannabis Withdrawal Scale were used. Results showed a decrease in both cannabis use and consumption due to enhancement and social motives. All reported sources of cannabis experienced a reduction except for the Internet, which experienced a significant increase. There was a positive correlation between withdrawal symptoms and coping motives before and during the lockdown. These findings will allow professionals to better develop both prevention and intervention strategies.
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Dainton C, Donato-Woodger S, Chu CH. A multicenter study of short-term changes in mental health emergency services use during lockdown in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1840. [PMID: 34635077 PMCID: PMC8505015 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11807-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures have led to increasing mental health concerns in the general population. We aimed to assess the short-term impact of the pandemic lockdown on mental health emergency services use in the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario, Canada. Methods We conducted an observational study during the 6-month period between March 5 and September 5, 2020 using National Ambulatory Care Reporting System metadata from mental health visits to three regional Emergency Departments (ED); mental health and substance related police calls; and calls to a regional mental health crisis telephone line, comparing volumes during the pandemic lockdown with the same period in 2019. Quasi-Poisson regressions were used to determine significant differences between numbers of each visit or call type during the lockdown period versus the previous year. Significant changes in ED visits, mental health diagnoses, police responses, and calls to the crisis line from March 5 to September 5, 2020 were examined using changepoint analyses. Results Involuntary admissions, substance related visits, mood related visits, situational crisis visits, and self-harm related mental health visits to the EDs were significantly reduced during the lockdown period compared to the year before. Psychosis-related and alcohol-related visits were not significantly reduced. Among police calls, suicide attempts were significantly decreased during the period of lockdown, but intoxication, assault, and domestic disputes were not significantly different. Mental health crisis telephone calls were significantly decreased during the lockdown period. There was a significant increase in weekly mental health diagnoses starting in the week of July 12 – July 18. There was a significant increase in crisis calls starting in the week of May 31 – June 6, the same week that many guidelines, such as gathering restrictions, were eased. There was a significant increase in weekly police responses starting in the week of June 14 – June 20. Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, the decrease in most types of mental health ED visits, mental health and substance-related police calls, and mental health crisis calls largely mirrored the overall decline in emergency services usage during the lockdown period. This finding is unexpected in the context of increased attention to acutely deteriorating mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11807-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Dainton
- McMaster University, 1280 Main Street W., Hamilton, Ontario, 835 King St. West, Kitchener, ON, Canada. .,Grand River Hospital, 835 King St. West, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 1G3, Canada.
| | | | - Charlene H Chu
- Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, 155 College Street Suite 130, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P8, Canada.,Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2A2, Canada
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