ABSTRACT
Objective@#This study aimed to explore the characteristics and factors related to changes in cognitive function in vulnerable individuals with cognitive impairment during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. @*Methods@#Among patients who visited a local university hospital with subjective cognitive complaints, those who had been tested for cognitive function at least once after the onset of COVID-19 and tested regularly at least three times within the last 5 years were included (1st, the initial screening; 2nd, the test immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic; 3rd, the most recent test after the pandemic). Finally, 108 patients were included in this study. They were divided into groups according to whether the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) was maintained/improved and deteriorated. We investigated the characteristics of the changes in cognitive function and related factors during COVID-19. @*Results@#When comparing CDR changes before and after COVID-19, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.317). Alternatively, the main effect of the time when the test was conducted was significant (p<0.001). There was also a significant difference in the interaction between the groups and time. When the effect of the interaction was analyzed, the CDR score of the maintained/ improved group significantly decreased before COVID-19 (1st–2nd) (p=0.045). After COVID-19 (2nd–3rd), the CDR score of the deteriorated group was significantly higher than that of the maintained/improved group (p<0.001). Mini-Mental State Examination recall memory and changes in activity during COVID-19 were significantly associated with CDR deterioration. @*Conclusion@#Memory dysfunction and decreased activity during the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly related to the deterioration of cognitive impairment.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#：Suicide attempt history is one of the major suicide risk factors and the suicide mortality rate increases with the number of suicide attempts. This study aimed to compare demographic and clinical factors between first and multiple suicide attempters and investigate risk factors for multiple suicide attempts. @*Methods@#：Participants were 537 patients who were admitted to an emergency room after attempting suicide and divided into two groups (393 first attempters and 144 multiple attempters). Demographic factors, clinical characteristics, and suicide-related characteristics were compared between the two groups. Variables with a p-value lower than 0.1 were included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Logistic regression models were considered to identify independent risk factors for multiple suicide attempts. The significance level was set to 0.05. @*Results@#：Among demographic factors, the two groups differed in age, sex, education, occupation, and marital and cohabitation status. Multiple attempters were more likely to have a mental disorder, current use of psychiatric medication, interpersonal and psychiatric motivation for suicide, current suicidal thoughts, help seeking behavior, awareness of suicide, and agreement with psychiatric follow up. In the regression analysis, unmarried status, mental disorder, interpersonal or psychiatric stress, help seeking behavior, and antidepressant use emerged as significant risk factors of multiple suicide attempts. @*Conclusion@#：The study’s findings suggested that there are differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics of first and multiple suicide attempters. Specific strategies that consider unmarried status, mental disorder, interpersonal or psychiatric stress, help seeking behavior, and antidepressant use may be valuable for future suicide prevention.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#：Suicide attempt history is one of the major suicide risk factors and the suicide mortality rate increases with the number of suicide attempts. This study aimed to compare demographic and clinical factors between first and multiple suicide attempters and investigate risk factors for multiple suicide attempts. @*Methods@#：Participants were 537 patients who were admitted to an emergency room after attempting suicide and divided into two groups (393 first attempters and 144 multiple attempters). Demographic factors, clinical characteristics, and suicide-related characteristics were compared between the two groups. Variables with a p-value lower than 0.1 were included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Logistic regression models were considered to identify independent risk factors for multiple suicide attempts. The significance level was set to 0.05. @*Results@#：Among demographic factors, the two groups differed in age, sex, education, occupation, and marital and cohabitation status. Multiple attempters were more likely to have a mental disorder, current use of psychiatric medication, interpersonal and psychiatric motivation for suicide, current suicidal thoughts, help seeking behavior, awareness of suicide, and agreement with psychiatric follow up. In the regression analysis, unmarried status, mental disorder, interpersonal or psychiatric stress, help seeking behavior, and antidepressant use emerged as significant risk factors of multiple suicide attempts. @*Conclusion@#：The study’s findings suggested that there are differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics of first and multiple suicide attempters. Specific strategies that consider unmarried status, mental disorder, interpersonal or psychiatric stress, help seeking behavior, and antidepressant use may be valuable for future suicide prevention.