Shifts in inpatient psychiatry utilization patterns at a U.S. Academic Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted utilization volumes and patterns for inpatient psychiatry, though reports have noted inconsistencies on small populations. We obtained demographic and diagnostic data from a retrospective cohort of admitted psychiatric patients at a single-site from March-July 2020 and the corresponding months in 2019. Despite controlling for the modest decrease in inpatient admissions, no statistically significant changes in demographics or utilization was found, except for an increase in patients with substance use disorder (p<0.001). These early findings highlight the demand and necessity for inpatient psychiatry services even during the first COVID-19 spike.

State-Level Data on Suicide Mortality During COVID-19 Quarantine: Early Evidence of a Disproportionate Impact on Racial Minorities.

The unprecedented impact of COVID-19 has raised concern for the potential of increased suicides due to a convergence of suicide risk factors. We obtained suicide mortality data to assess completed suicides during the period of strict stay-at-home quarantine measures in Connecticut and compared this data with previous years. While the total age-adjusted suicide mortality rate decreased by 13% during the lockdown period compared with the 5-year average, a significantly higher proportion of suicide decedents were from racial minority groups. This finding may provide early evidence of a disproportionate impact from the social and economic challenges of COVID-19 on minority populations.