ABSTRACT
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the change in sociodemographic characteristics and the diagnostic distribution of patients who presented at a psychiatric clinic in Turkey or were the subject of a consultation request during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period. Methods: The research included patients who presented at the Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Research and Practice Hospital Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic as well as consultation cases requested by the clinic during 3 periods that reflected conditions prior to and after the declaration of a pandemic: March 12-June 9, 2020, December 13, 2019-March 11, 2020, and March 12-June 9, 2019. An independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance or chi-squared test was used to provide statistically descriptive analyses and intergroup comparisons. Results: A total of 5139 cases, 4634 outpatient presentations and 505 consultations, were included in the study. The number of outpatient clinic presentations decreased significantly during the pandemic. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were anxiety disorders (35.8%) and depression disorders (30.2%). The proportional change in depression and sleep disorders was statistically significant during the pandemic;anxiety (n=94, 40.9%) and depression (n=89, 38.7%) complaints increased the most. Inpatient (n=95, 22.9%) and emergency room consultations (n=12, 13.3%) were lower during the pandemic period measured. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic distribution of inpatient consultations during the pandemic period;however, there was a significant increase in the number of requests for consultation from the emergency room for delirium cases. Conclusion: The number of outpatient clinic presentations and consultation requests decreased during the pandemic period. Patients with depression particularly experienced exacerbation, and the number of delirium consultations in the emergency room increased significantly. © 2021 by Journal of Psychiatric Nursing.
ABSTRACT
Aim: In our study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of social isolation and social distance measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic process on psychological stress and gambling habits. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and three people who were contacted via e-mail after creating an online questionnaire were included in the study. A structured online questionnaire including a sociodemographic information form, the South Oaks Gambling Screening Test (SOKK), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10-PDS) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was applied to all participants by the researchers. Results: The average age of the 203 participants who were included in the study was found to be 37.64 (+/- 6.70), 62.1% were men and 37.9% were women. The overall SOKK score was 1.05 (+/- 2.03), the total K10-PSS score was 21.96 (+/- 10.51), the mean DASS-D, DASS-A, DASS-S scores were 3.49 (+/- 3.41), 1.99 (+/- 2.26), 4.04 (+/- 3.44), respectively. No statistically significant correlation was found between the total SOKK score and the DASS-A, DASS-S, DASS-D and K10-PSS scores. For men compared to women, for those who buy digital money (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple, etc.) compared to those who do not gamble at least once in their lifetime, and those who have not gambled at least 1 time in the last month, the total SOKK score was statistically significantly higher (p<0.001, p<0.01, p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). The SOKK total score was found to be statistically significantly higher in men than women who gambled at least once in their lifetime, and those who did not apply to psychiatry before (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). Discussion: In this study, it has been shown that social isolation measures taken during the pandemic process can increase psychological distress in people. Besides this, gambling behavior may increase, especially in men, in persons who have bought digital money before and those who have gambled at least once in their life.
ABSTRACT
Aim: In our study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of social isolation and social distance measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic process on psychological stress and gambling habits. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and three people who were contacted via e-mail after creating an online questionnaire were included in the study. A struc-tured online questionnaire including a sociodemographic information form, the South Oaks Gambling Screening Test (SOKK), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10-PDS) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was applied to all participants by the researchers. Results: The average age of the 203 participants who were included in the study was found to be 37.64 (± 6.70), 62.1% were men and 37.9% were women. The overall SOKK score was 1.05 (± 2.03), the total K10-PSS score was 21.96 (± 10.51), the mean DASS-D, DASS-A, DASS-S scores were 3.49 (± 3.41), 1.99 (± 2.26), 4.04 (± 3.44), respectively. No statistically significant correlation was found between the total SOKK score and the DASS-A, DASS-S, DASS-D and K10-PSS scores. For men compared to women, for those who buy digital money (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple, etc.) compared to those who do not gamble at least once in their lifetime, and those who have not gambled at least 1 time in the last month, the total SOKK score was statistically significantly higher (p<0.001, p<0.01, p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). The SOKK total score was found to be statistically significantly higher in men than women who gambled at least once in their lifetime, and those who did not apply to psychiatry before (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). Discussion: In this study, it has been shown that social isolation measures taken during the pandemic process can increase psychological distress in people. Besides this, gambling behavior may increase, especially in men, in persons who have bought digital money before and those who have gambled at least once in their life.