COVID-19-related consultation-liaison (CL) mental health services in general hospitals: Results of an international survey

Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic presented new difficulties for integrated healthcare worldwide. Our study aims to highlight developing needs for cooperation while describing structures and practices of consultation liaison (CL) services established during pandemic across Europe. Method(s): The cross-sectional survey used an ONLINE self-developed 25-item questionnaire in four language versions (English, French, Italian, German). Dissemination was via national professional societies cooperating in EAPM, and heads of CL services from June to October 2021 Results: 259 hospital CL services took part in the study (28.0% response rate). 222 (85.7%) of these services reported providing COVID-19-related mental health care (COVIDpsyCare). Among them, 192 services (86.5%) reported the development of specialized COVID-psyCare co-operation arrangements. 135 services (50.8%) provided specific COVID-psyCare for patients, 85 (38.2%) for relatives, and 171 (77.0%) for staff, with 56.3%, 14.6%, and 23.7% of time resources invested for these groups, respectively. Interventions for hospital staff, commonly related to the liaison function of CL services, were rated as being the most helpful. Regarding newly emerging demands, 129 (58.1%) CL services stated a need for communication and support among themselves concerning COVID-psyCare, and 142 (64.0%) suggested certain adjustments or enhancements that they thought were crucial for the future. Conclusion(s): Specific structure to provide COVID mental health care for patients, their relatives, or staff were implemented in over 80% of the participating CL services. Resources were primarily allocated for patient care, and staff assistance was mostly achieved through the implementation of specialized interventions. COVID psyCare's development calls for further intra- and interinstitutional cooperation.Copyright © 2023

Depressive symptoms, but not anxiety, predict subsequent diagnosis of Coronavirus disease 19: a national cohort study.

AIMS: Several diseases are linked to increased risk of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Our aim was to investigate whether depressive and anxiety symptoms predict subsequent risk of COVID-19, as has been shown for other respiratory infections. METHODS: We based our analysis on UK Biobank participants providing prospective data to estimate temporal association between depressive and anxiety symptoms and COVID-19. We estimated whether the magnitude of these symptoms predicts subsequent diagnosis of COVID-19 in this sample. Further, we evaluated whether depressive and anxiety symptoms predicted (i) being tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and (ii) COVID-19 in those tested. RESULTS: Based on data from N = 135 102 participants, depressive symptoms (odds ratio (OR) = 1.052; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.017-1.086; absolute case risk: (moderately) severe depression: 493 per 100 000 v. minimal depression: 231 per 100 000) but not anxiety (OR = 1.009; 95% CI 0.97-1.047) predicted COVID-19. While depressive symptoms but not anxiety predicted (i) being tested for SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 1.039; 95% CI 1.029-1.05 and OR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.978-1.002), (ii) neither predicted COVID-19 in those tested (OR = 1.015; 95% CI 0.981-1.05 and OR = 1.021; 95% CI 0.981-1.061). Results remained stable after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, multimorbidity and behavioural factors. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms were associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, irrespective of multimorbidities. Potential underlying mechanisms to be elucidated include risk behaviour, symptom perception, healthcare use, testing likelihood, viral exposure, immune function and disease progress. Our findings highlight the relevance of mental processes in the context of COVID-19.

Long COVID 1 year after hospitalisation for COVID-19: a prospective bicentric cohort study

AIMS OF THE STUDY: There is increasing interest in better understanding of long COVID, a condition characterised by long-term sequelae-appearing or persistingafter the typical convalescence period-of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Herein, we describe long-term outcomes regarding residual symptoms and psychological distress in hospitalised patients 1 year after COVID-19. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included consecutive adult patients hospitalised for confirmed COVID-19 in two Swiss tertiary-care hospitals between March and June 2020. The primary endpoint was evidence of long COVID 1 year after discharge, defined as =1 persisting or new symptom related to COVID-19, from a predefined list of symptoms. Secondary endpoints included psychological distress and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). RESULTS: Among 90 patients included in the study, 63 (70%) had symptoms of long COVID 1 year after hospitalisation, particularly fatigue (46%), concentration difficulties (31%), shortness of breath (21%) and post-exertion malaise (20%). Three predictors, namely duration of hospitalisation (odds ratio [OR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.22;p = 0.041), severity of illness (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.37;p = 0.013), and self-perceived overall health status 30 days after hospitalisation (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-1.00;p = 0.027) were associated with long COVID. Regarding secondary endpoints, 16 (18%) experienced psychological distress and 3 (3.3%) patients had symptoms of PTSD. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of COVID-19 patients report symptoms of long COVID 1 year after hospitalisation, which negatively affects their quality of life. The most important risk factors were severe initial presentation of COVID-19 with long hospital stays.