Changing trends in psychiatric emergency service admissions during the COVID-19 outbreak: Report from a worldwide epicentre.
Admission
COVID-19
Emergency psychiatry
Mental health
Pandemic
Quarantine
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 03 2021
01 03 2021
Historique:
received:
07
10
2020
revised:
14
12
2020
accepted:
17
12
2020
pubmed:
3
1
2021
medline:
20
2
2021
entrez:
2
1
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a structural reorganization was imposed on public health systems. Psychiatry services were also affected with the imposed reduction of non-urgent consultations. We aim to explore the effect of these changes on a Psychiatry Emergency Service during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients admitted to our Psychiatric Emergency Service 90 days before and after March 14 1,958 psychiatric emergency admissions were analyzed. Although the number of admissions decreased by 37.9%, we observed a significant increase in the percentage of acute psychiatric hospitalization during the lockdown. Anxiety spectrum disorders accumulated the greatest significant decrease in admission rates during the lockdown. On the other hand, a significant increase in admissions rates was found in patients with dementia, autism spectrum disorders, and substance use disorders during the lockdown. This study was conducted in a single psychiatric emergency service, preventing a generalization of our results. The comparison time period might have biased our results due to the influence of external factors. Mental health consequences of COVID-19 are becoming apparent. A reduction of admission rates for anxiety disorders might be related telepsychiatry implementation during the lockdown. Other conditions particularly vulnerable to the routine changes and lack of social support have suffered the most, and efforts should be placed to treat these situations.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a structural reorganization was imposed on public health systems. Psychiatry services were also affected with the imposed reduction of non-urgent consultations. We aim to explore the effect of these changes on a Psychiatry Emergency Service during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients admitted to our Psychiatric Emergency Service 90 days before and after March 14
RESULTS
1,958 psychiatric emergency admissions were analyzed. Although the number of admissions decreased by 37.9%, we observed a significant increase in the percentage of acute psychiatric hospitalization during the lockdown. Anxiety spectrum disorders accumulated the greatest significant decrease in admission rates during the lockdown. On the other hand, a significant increase in admissions rates was found in patients with dementia, autism spectrum disorders, and substance use disorders during the lockdown.
LIMITATIONS
This study was conducted in a single psychiatric emergency service, preventing a generalization of our results. The comparison time period might have biased our results due to the influence of external factors.
CONCLUSION
Mental health consequences of COVID-19 are becoming apparent. A reduction of admission rates for anxiety disorders might be related telepsychiatry implementation during the lockdown. Other conditions particularly vulnerable to the routine changes and lack of social support have suffered the most, and efforts should be placed to treat these situations.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33387743
pii: S0165-0327(20)33147-5
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.057
pmc: PMC7765763
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
26-32Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.