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Tebbett-Mock AA, Saito E, Tang SX, McGee M, Van Meter A. The Mental Health Toll of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescents Receiving Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2024; 34:264-270. [PMID: 38742983 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2024.0020] [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: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of depression and anxiety among children and adolescents significantly increased, along with the number of visits to emergency departments due to suicidality and/or suicide attempts. Relatedly, health care workers experienced significant burnout and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder during this time. However, the corresponding impact on psychiatric inpatient treatment has not yet been researched. We hypothesized that during the pandemic, adolescents hospitalized in an acute care psychiatric inpatient unit had increased incidents of suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors and of aggressive behaviors toward others, resulting in greater use of constant observation and restraints. Method: This study was a retrospective chart review based on electronic medical record data examining use of restraints and constant observation one year before the pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) and 1 year following the onset of the pandemic (March 2020 to February 2021) in an acute-care adolescent (12 to 17 years old) psychiatric inpatient unit. Results: There were 571 admissions during the year before the pandemic and 500 admissions during the pandemic. The number of patients who were restrained (χ2 = 7.86, p = 0.005), number of patients who were placed on constant observation (χ2 = 13.41, p < 0.001), and number of constant observation orders per patient (χ2 = 91.90, p < 0.001) were all significantly greater during the pandemic. Conclusion: Psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents during the pandemic received more intensive interventions such as restraints and constant observation. Severe patient psychopathology and staff shortages, as well as limitations of and decreases to the dialectical behavior therapy program, may have been the contributing factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison A Tebbett-Mock
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Ema Saito
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Sunny X Tang
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes of Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Madeline McGee
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Anna Van Meter
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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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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Messina A, Signorelli MS. COVID-19 associated psychosis. Ind Psychiatry J 2023; 32:215-221. [PMID: 38161482 PMCID: PMC10756597 DOI: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_27_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic was declared, cases of psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized behavior have been reported worldwide, both during the acute phase of COVID-19 and after recovery. Given the recent emergence of COVID-19, data are still accumulating, and it is premature to correlate COVID-19 with psychotic disorders causally. However, SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and penetrate neurons. This finding and the amount of published work on COVID-19 and psychotic disorders compel special attention to elucidate the link between SARS-CoV-2 and the occurrence of psychotic symptoms. In this article, several reviews and case reports that have analyzed the link between COVID-19 and psychotic disorders are reviewed. In light of the data that have emerged at the present time, study criteria were proposed to identify COVID-19-related psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Salvina Signorelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Becerra-García JA, Barbeito S, Sánchez-Gutiérrez T, Calvo A. Public Interest in Psychiatric Treatments During COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Changes Between 2020 and 2021. Psychiatry Investig 2023; 20:180-181. [PMID: 36891603 PMCID: PMC9996139 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2022.0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Barbeito
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (UNIR), Logroño, Spain
| | | | - Ana Calvo
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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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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Yaniv-Rosenfeld A, Rosenfeld A, Hirsch Klein E. COVID-19 restrictions and visitations to an Israeli psychiatric emergency department: A four-lockdowns retrospective study. Psychiatry Res 2023; 319:115004. [PMID: 36525902 PMCID: PMC9737515 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.115004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We examine the volume and characteristics of psychiatric ED visitations through a perspective of four COVID-19 lockdowns. All adult visitations to the ED of Shalvata Mental Healthcare center (Israel) during 2020-2021 were retrieved and statistically analysed and data from 2017 to 2019 was considered as control. Voluntary and involuntary ED visitations were considered, separately and combined. We find that the significant decrease in the volume of voluntary ED visitations during the 1st lockdown was quickly overturned, roughly returning to the pre-pandemic state following its conclusion. In parallel, the volume of involuntary ED visitations has dramatically increased, with the most striking levels observed during the second and third lockdowns. Elapsed time since the first occurrence of COVID-19 in Israel and the level of governmental restrictions is significantly associated with the increase in the volume of ED visits and admissions, the admission rate and the rate of involuntary visits. The prolonged consequences associated with the pandemic and the measures taken to control it suggest that it is unreasonable to expect a return to normal ED utilization in the near future. As such, alternatives to strict lockdowns should be favored when possible and urgent strengthening of psychiatric care is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Yaniv-Rosenfeld
- Shalvata Mental Health Care Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel; Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Efrat Hirsch Klein
- Shalvata Mental Health Care Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel; Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Incidence rate and distinctive characteristics of first episode psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicenter observational study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22036. [PMID: 36543820 PMCID: PMC9772195 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26297-6] [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] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of people around the world. However, its impact on first-episode psychosis (FEP) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate (IR) and the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients who developed FEP during the nine-month period following the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain and to compare these data to the corresponding period in the previous year. We included all patients (n = 220) treated for the first time during these two time periods at three FEP programs in Spain. The IR was 0.42/100,000 person-years during the pandemic vs. 0.54/100,000 in the prior year (p = 0.057). Compared to prior year, women accounted for a significantly higher proportion of FEP patients (46.3% vs. 28%; p = 0.005) during the COVID-19 period. This association was significant on the logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, female: 2.12 [confidence interval 1.17-3.82]; p = 0.014). These data reveal a non-significant trend towards a lower incidence of FEP during the pandemic period. Female sex was associated with a greater risk of developing FEP during the pandemic period, perhaps due to differences between males and females in the susceptibility and expression of psychosis. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of stress-related disorders.
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Werling AM, Walitza S, Eliez S, Drechsler R. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and family situation of clinically referred children and adolescents in Switzerland: results of a survey among mental health care professionals after 1 year of COVID-19. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022; 129:675-688. [PMID: 35652976 PMCID: PMC9160518 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-022-02512-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental well-being of clinically referred children and adolescents and on their families from the perspective of mental health care professionals in Switzerland during the first year of the pandemic. Psychiatrists and psychologists for children and adolescents participated in an anonymous survey conducted online in April/May 2021. The survey was completed by 454 mental health care professionals, most of them working in outpatient clinics for child and adolescent psychiatry or in independent practices. Most participants indicated an important increase of referrals for depression (86.8% of respondents), anxiety disorders (81.5%), crisis interventions (76.2%), psychosomatic disorders (66.1%), suicidality (63.8%), and behavioral addictions, e.g., excessive gaming (64.6%). In contrast, referrals or treatment demands for disorders such as autism spectrum disorder or psychosis showed no substantial change or a slight decrease, respectively. According to 69% of respondents, patients experienced the highest psychological burden in January/February/March 2021. Family problems very frequently reported by mental health professionals were parents' worries about loneliness/isolation of the child (49%), child's education and academic future (33%), increased media use due to missing options of recreational activities (37.6%), as well as multiple stresses of mothers (36.3%). To conclude, the pandemic has substantially changed the pattern of disorders and the number of clinical referrals of children and adolescents with mental health problems, which has serious consequences for the treatment supply in Switzerland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Werling
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research, Neuropsychology, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Eisengasse 16, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Walitza
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research, Neuropsychology, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Eisengasse 16, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Eliez
- Swiss Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Renate Drechsler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research, Neuropsychology, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Eisengasse 16, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
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