ABSTRACT
Graphical Introduction The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a great impact on the physical and psychological health of the population. The aim of this study was to evaluate child and adolescent mental health in a population cohort along the 2020-2021 school year. Methods This was a prospective longitudinal study of a cohort of children from 5 to 14 years of age in Catalonia, Spain, performed from September 2020 to July 2021. The participants were randomly selected and accompanied by their primary care paediatrician. Evaluation of risk of psychopathology was performed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) carried out by one of the legal guardians of the child. We also collected sociodemographic and health variables of the participants and their nuclear family. Data were collected by an online survey through the RedCap platform at the beginning of the academic year and at the end of each trimester (4 cuts). Results At the beginning of the school year, 9.8% of the patients were probable cases of psychopathology compared to 6.2% at the end of the year. The perception of the level of preoccupation of the children for their health and that of their family was related to presenting psychopathology, especially at the beginning of the year, with the perception of a good family atmosphere being always related to lower risk. No variable related to COVID-19 was associated with an altered SDQ result. Conclusions Along the 2020-2021 school year, the percentage of children with a probability of presenting psychopathology decreased from 9.8% to 6.2%.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a great impact on the physical and psychological health of the population. The aim of this study was to evaluate child and adolescent mental health in a population cohort along the 2020-2021 school year. METHODS: This was a prospective longitudinal study of a cohort of children from 5-14 years of age in Catalonia, Spain, performed from September 2020 to July 2021. The participants were randomly selected and accompanied by their primary care paediatrician. Evaluation of risk of psychopathology was performed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) carried out by one of the legal guardians of the child. We also collected sociodemographic and health variables of the participants and their nuclear family. Data were collected by an online survey through the RedCap platform at the beginning of the academic year and at the end of each trimester (4 cuts). RESULTS: At the beginning of the school year, 9.8% of the patients were probable cases of psychopathology compared to 6.2% at the end of the year. The perception of the level of preoccupation of the children for their health and that of their family was related to presenting psychopathology, especially at the beginning of the year, with the perception of a good family atmosphere being always related to lower risk. No variable related to COVID-19 was associated with an altered SDQ result. CONCLUSIONS: Along the 2020-2021 school year, the percentage of children with a probability of presenting psychopathology decreased from 9.8% to 6.2%.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mental Disorders , Humans , Child , Adolescent , Mental Health , COVID-19/epidemiology , Pandemics , Spain/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Longitudinal Studies , Prospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , SchoolsABSTRACT
Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a great impact on the physical and psychological health of the population. The aim of our study was to assess child and adolescent mental health in a cohort throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal prospective study in a cohort of children aged 5 to 14 years in Catalonia, Spain, from September 2020 to July 2021. Participants were randomly selected and followed up by their primary care paediatricians. The risk of mental health problems was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), completed by one of the legal guardians of the child. In addition, we obtained information on the sociodemographic and health characteristics of the participants and their nuclear families. We collected the data by means of an online survey through the REDCap platform at the beginning of the academic year and at the end of each term (4 time points). Results: At the beginning of the school year, 9.8% of participants were cases of probable psychopathology compared to 6.2% at the end of the year. The perceived level of worry of the children for their own health and the health of their families was associated with the presence of psychopathology, especially at the beginning of the year, while the perception of a good family atmosphere was consistently associated with a decreased risk. No variable related to COVID-19 was associated with abnormal results in the SDQ. Conclusions: During the 2020-2021 school year, the percentage of children with probable psychopathology decreased from 9.8% to 6.2%.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a great impact on the physical and psychological health of the population. The aim of our study was to assess child and adolescent mental health in a cohort throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal prospective study in a cohort of children aged 5 to 14 years in Catalonia, Spain, from September 2020 to July 2021. Participants were randomly selected and followed up by their primary care paediatricians. The risk of mental health problems was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), completed by one of the legal guardians of the child. In addition, we obtained information on the sociodemographic and health characteristics of the participants and their nuclear families. We collected the data by means of an online survey through the REDCap platform at the beginning of the academic year and at the end of each term (4 time points). Results: At the beginning of the school year, 9.8% of participants were cases of probable psychopathology compared to 6.2% at the end of the year. The perceived level of worry of the children for their own health and the health of their families was associated with the presence of psychopathology, especially at the beginning of the year, while the perception of a good family atmosphere was consistently associated with a decreased risk. No variable related to COVID-19 was associated with abnormal results in the SDQ. Conclusions: During the 2020-2021 school year, the percentage of children with probable psychopathology decreased from 9.8% to 6.2%.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this project was to evaluate the psychopathological impact of home confinement and school closing between March and September 2020 on the mental health of Catalonian children. METHODS: PEDSAME study: first cross-sectional section (beginning of the school year) and retrospective data (lockdown), carried out through the network of Primary Care pediatricians in the Catalan population between 5 and 14 years (included) from 09/14/2020 to 10/30/2020 in a random sample. Data were collected with an online survey through the RedCap platform at the beginning of the school year. The main variable was the result of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire answered by parents to assess the risk of psychopathology, in addition to other related variable. RESULTS: The results obtained at the beginning of the school year show that 9.8% of the patients were probable cases of psychopathology. The most affected group were those between 5 and 8 years. The perception of the children's level of concern for their health and that of their family was a risk factor for presenting psychopathology, while the good family environment was a protective factor. Emotional and behavioral symptoms, sleep disorders and problematic use of screens were detected more frequently during confinement than at the beginning of the school year. CONCLUSIONS: Confinement and the absence of schooling for 6 months had a negative impact on the mental health of the child-adolescent population who showed worse indicators than the previous year.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Adolescent , Communicable Disease Control , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Mental Health , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , SchoolsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 has caused a high mortality in institutionalised individuals. There are very few studies on the involvement and the real impact of COVID-19 in nursing homes. This study analysed factors related to morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 in institutionalised elderly people. METHODS: This cohort study included 842 individuals from 12 nursing homes in Sant Cugat del Vallès (Spain) from 15 March to 15 May 2020. We evaluated individual factors (demographic, dependence, clinical, and therapeutic) and those related to the nursing homes (size and staff) associated with infection and mortality by SARS-CoV-2. Infection was diagnosed by molecular biology test. RESULTS: Of the 842 residents included in the analysis, 784 underwent a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test; 74.2% were women, the mean age was 87.1 years, and 11.1% died. The PCR test was positive in 44%. A total of 33.4% of the residents presented symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and of these, 80.9% were PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2. Infection by SARS-CoV-2 among residents was associated with the rate of staff infected in the homes. Mortality by SARS-CoV-2 was related to male sex and a greater grade of dependence measured with the Barthel index. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-Cov-2 infection in institutionalised people is associated with the infection rate in nursing home workers and mortality by SARS-Cov-2 with sex and greater dependency according to the Barthel index. Adequate management of nursing home staff and special attention to measures of infection control, especially of individuals with greater dependence, are keys for successful management of future pandemic situations.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Morbidity , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this project was to evaluate the psychopathological impact of home confinement and school closing between March and September 2020 on the mental health of Catalonian children. METHODS: PEDSAME study: first cross-sectional section (beginning of the school year) and retrospective data (lockdown), carried out through the network of Primary Care pediatricians in the Catalan population between 5 and 14 years (included) from 09/14/2020 to 10/30/2020 in a random sample. Data were collected with an online survey through the RedCap platform at the beginning of the school year. The main variable was the result of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire answered by parents to assess the risk of psychopathology, in addition to other related variable. RESULTS: The results obtained at the beginning of the school year show that 9.8% of the patients were probable cases of psychopathology. The most affected group were those between 5 and 8 years. The perception of the children's level of concern for their health and that of their family was a risk factor for presenting psychopathology, while the good family environment was a protective factor. Emotional and behavioral symptoms, sleep disorders and problematic use of screens were detected more frequently during confinement than at the beginning of the school year. CONCLUSIONS: Confinement and the absence of schooling for 6 months had a negative impact on the mental health of the child-adolescent population who showed worse indicators than the previous year.