Suicidal behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: clinical aspects and associated factors / Comportamento suicida durante a pandemia da COVID-19: aspectos clínicos e fatores associados / Comportamiento suicida durante la pandemia de COVID-19: aspectos clínicos y factores asociados

Resumo Objetivo Analisar os aspectos clínicos e os fatores associados ao comportamento suicida durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Métodos Estudo transversal e analítico, realizado com registros assistenciais de 130 pacientes que buscaram atendimento em emergência psiquiátrica após ideação, planejamento ou tentativa de suicídio. Utilizou-se um formulário para caracterização sociodemográfica, clínica e terapêutica, assim como para identificação das necessidades de cuidados e dos fatores associados. A análise dos dados foi constituída pelos testes Exato de Fischer, Qui-quadrado de Pearson e pela Regressão de Poisson, considerando nível de significância de 5%. Resultados O comportamento suicida foi expresso pela tentativa de suicídio, ideação e planejamento, predominando no sexo feminino, em adultos jovens, desempregados e de baixa renda familiar, assim como em pacientes com histórico de transtorno mental, de internação psiquiátrica, de tentativas prévias e de abandono terapêutico. As principais alterações psíquicas envolveram ansiedade, depressão, sentimentos de desesperança, alucinações audiovisuais e delírios persecutórios. O consumo de substâncias psicoativas elevou em até 13,8 vezes o risco para tentativa de suicídio e as crises situacionais em 10,6 vezes a ideação. Ainda, a perda de renda e a internação anterior foram associados à manifestação do comportamento. As evidências de cuidados envolveram intervenções medicamentosas, medidas de vigilância e admissão hospitalar. Conclusão Durante a pandemia da COVID-19, o comportamento suicida foi associado à maior predisposição para o consumo de substâncias psicoativas, crises situacionais e perda de renda. Destaca-se a necessidade de políticas públicas voltadas para identificação, prevenção e gerenciamento adequado dos estados de risco.

Resumen Objetivo Analizar los aspectos clínicos y los factores asociados al comportamiento suicida durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos Estudio transversal y analítico, realizado con registros asistenciales de 130 pacientes que buscaron atención en emergencia psiquiátrica después de ideación, planificación o intento de suicidio. Se utilizó un formulario para la caracterización sociodemográfica, clínica y terapéutica, como también para la identificación de las necesidades de cuidados y de los factores asociados. El análisis de los datos estuvo constituido por la prueba Exacta de Fisher, Ji cuadrado de Pearson y por la Regresión de Poisson, considerando un nivel de significancia del 5 %. Resultados El comportamiento suicida se expresó a través del intento de suicidio, ideación y planificación, con predominio del sexo femenino, adultos jóvenes, desempleados y con bajos ingresos familiares, así como pacientes con historial de trastorno mental, de internación psiquiátrica, de intentos previos y de abandono terapéutico. Las principales alteraciones psíquicas incluyeron ansiedad, depresión, sentimientos de desesperanza, alucinaciones audiovisuales y delirios de persecución. El consumo de substancias psicoactivas aumentó 13,8 veces el riesgo de intento de suicidio, y las crisis situacionales aumentaron 10,6 veces la ideación. Además, la pérdida de ingresos e internaciones anteriores se asociaron a la manifestación del comportamiento. Las evidencias de cuidados incluyeron intervenciones medicamentosas, medidas de vigilancia y admisión hospitalaria. Conclusión Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, el comportamiento suicida se asoció a un aumento de la predisposición al consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, crisis situacionales y pérdida de ingresos. Se destaca la necesidad de políticas públicas orientadas hacia la identificación, prevención y una gestión adecuada de los estados de riesgo.

Abstract Objective To analyze the clinical aspects and factors associated with suicidal behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Cross-sectional analytical study performed with care records of 130 patients who sought care in the psychiatric emergency department after suicidal ideation, planning or attempt. A form was used for sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic characterization, and for identification of care needs and associated factors. Data analysis consisted of Fischer's exact test, Pearson's chi-square test and Poisson's regression, considering a significance level of 5%. Results Suicidal behavior was expressed by suicide attempt, ideation and planning. It was predominant in the female sex, young adults, unemployed, with low family income, and in patients with a history of mental disorder, psychiatric hospitalization, previous attempts and of therapeutic abandonment. The main psychic alterations involved anxiety, depression, feelings of hopelessness, audiovisual hallucinations and persecutory delusions. The consumption of psychoactive substances increased by up to 13.8 times the risk for suicide attempt, while situational crises increased suicidal ideation by up to 10.6 times. The loss of income and previous hospitalization were associated with manifestation of the behavior. Evidence of care involved drug interventions, surveillance measures, and hospital admission. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, suicidal behavior was associated with a greater predisposition to consume psychoactive substances, situational crises and loss of income. The need for public policies aimed at the identification, prevention and adequate management of risk states stands out.

Suicide preventive strategies for the nursing team in the COVID-19: a scoping review / Estratégias preventivas ao suicídio para equipe de enfermagem na COVID-19: uma revisão de escopo / Estrategias preventivas al suicidio para un equipo de enfermería durante el COVID-19: una revisión de alcance

Resumo Objetivo Identificar as estratégias de prevenção da ideação suicida e do suicídio durante a pandemia de COVID-19 para a equipe de enfermagem. Métodos Revisão de escopo realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, BVS, SCOPUS, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO e na literatura cinzenta como Google Acadêmico. Resultados Compõem esta revisão 11 artigos, todos publicados em inglês, a maioria publicada no ano de 2021, nos Estados Unidos da América. As estratégias identificadas perpassam a psicoeducação; espaços para acolhimento das demandas dos profissionais, escuta, apoio e promoção de bem-estar; avaliação e rastreio da saúde mental; encaminhamento para serviços de apoio especializados; intervenção psicológica e aconselhamento; estratégias para reconhecer e lidar com gatilhos, emoções e pensamentos negativos; ações de autocuidado; escuta; apoio e promoção de bem-estar; dentre outras. Conclusão As estratégias que resultaram em impacto positivo na saúde mental das equipes de enfermagem foram a criação de espaços para acolhimento das demandas dos profissionais, escuta, apoio e promoção de bem-estar, além da avaliação e do rastreio da saúde mental como formas de prevenção às ações e às ideações suicidas. Destaca-se a importância de estudos que avaliem o efeito das estratégias na saúde mental das equipes de enfermagem para que protocolos possam ser criados na mitigação do problema.

Resumen Objetivo Identificar las estrategias de prevención de la ideación suicida y del suicidio durante la pandemia de COVID-19 para el equipo de enfermería. Métodos Revisión de alcance realizada en las bases de datos PubMed, BVS, SCOPUS, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO y en la literatura gris, como Google Académico. Resultados Integran esta revisión 11 artículos, todos publicados en inglés, la mayoría publicada en el año 2021, en Estados Unidos de América. Las estrategias identificadas abarcan la psicoeducación; espacios para la acogida de las demandas de los profesionales, escucha, apoyo y promoción del bienestar; evaluación y rastreo de la salud mental; derivación para servicios de apoyo especializados; intervención psicológica y orientación; estrategias para reconocer y lidiar con disparadores, emociones y pensamientos negativos; acciones de autocuidado; escucha; apoyo y promoción del bienestar; entre otras. Conclusión Las estrategias que tuvieron un impacto positivo en la salud mental de los equipos de enfermería fueron la creación de espacios para acoger las demandas de los profesionales, escucha, apoyo y para la promoción del bienestar, además de la evaluación y el rastreo de la salud mental como formas de prevención de las acciones y de las ideaciones suicidas. Se destaca la importancia de estudios que evalúen el efecto de las estrategias en la salud mental de los equipos de enfermería para que se puedan crear protocolos para mitigar el problema.

Abstract Objective To identify strategies for the prevention of suicidal ideation and suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic for the nursing team. Methods Scoping review performed in PubMed, VHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO databases and in the gray literature, such as Google Scholar. Results This review comprises 11 articles, all published in English, mostly in year 2021 in the United States of America. The identified strategies include psychoeducation; spaces for embracement of professionals' demands, listening, support and promotion of wellbeing; mental health assessment and screening; referral to specialized support services; psychological intervention and counseling; strategies for recognizing and dealing with triggers, emotions and negative thoughts; self-care actions, among others. Conclusion Strategies that had a positive impact on the mental health of nursing teams were the creation of spaces for embracement of professionals' demands, listening, support and promotion of wellbeing, and the assessment and screening of mental health as ways of preventing suicidal actions and ideations. The importance of studies that evaluate the effect of strategies on the mental health of nursing teams stands out, so that protocols can be created to mitigate the problem.

[Suicide attempt before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative study from the emergency department]. / Intento de suicidio antes y durante la pandemia de covid-19. Estudio comparativo desde el servicio de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence and characteristics of the patients who consulted in the emergency department for attempted suicide in 2021 and to compare them with those carried out in the pre-Covid period in 2019. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study between January 1 and December 31, 2019 and 2021. Demographic, clinical variables (history, psychiatric medication, toxic abuse, mental health follow-up, and previous suicide attempt) and characteristics of the current suicide episode (mechanism, triggering reason, and patient destination) were included. RESULTS: They consulted 125 patients in 2019 and 173 in 2021, mean age 38.8±15.2 and 37.9±18.5 years, women 56.8% and 67.6%. They presented: previous suicide attempt, men 20.4% and 19.6%, women 40.8% and 31.6%; substance use disorder, men 51.8% and 46.4%, women 39.4% and 17.1%, due to alcohol, men 78.6% and 88.5%, women 82.1% and 70%. Characteristics of the autolytic episode: pharmacological cause, 68.8% in 2019, 70.5% in 2021, benzodiazepines (81.3% and 70.2%); toxic (30.4% and 16.8%), alcohol (78.9% and 86.2%), medication more associated with alcohol (benzodiazepines, 56.2% and 59.1%); self-harm (11.2% and 8.7%). Destination of the patients: outpatient psychiatric follow-up (84% and 71.7%), hospital admission (8.8% and 11%). CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in consultations of 38.4%, the majority were women, who also presented a higher prevalence of previous suicide attempt; men presented more substance use disorder. The most frequent autolytic mechanism was drugs, especially benzodiazepines. The most used toxicant was alcohol, most of the time associated with benzodiazepines. Upon discharge, most patients were referred to the mental health unit.

Increase in urgent care for patients with an eating disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Spanish province.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on people's mental health. Patients with eating disorders (ED) are also highly sensitive to the pandemic situation due to their physical and mental health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had on the reasons for the urgent care of patients with an eating disorder, comparing the reasons for care with those from a previous period. METHOD: We compared the visits to the emergency room and their characteristics before and after the pandemic of patients with an eating disorder in the province of Lleida. Information regarding sociodemographic status, reason for consultation, diagnosis, characteristics of suicidal behaviour, and other data were obtained from the electronic medical records. RESULTS: Within the total emergency attendances, eating disorders increased from 1.7% in the pre-pandemic period to 3.1% during the pandemic (p=0.030). Regarding the reason for consultation, a change in the pattern is observed, decreasing consultations for anxious decompensation (p<0.001) and increasing suicidal behaviour (p=0.016) and behavioural disorder (p=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: In our study we ascertained an increase in urgent care given to patients with an eating disorder during the two states of alarm, while consultations for anxiety symptoms decreased notably. However, care for suicidal behaviour increased, especially in women with comorbidity of personality disorders and who were unemployed.

Proposal for a Model of Suicidal Ideation in Medical Students in Colombia: A Simulation Study.

Suicidal behaviour is a global public health problem, and one population group with high prevalence rates is medical students, especially in the ideation component. Various models have tried to explain it, but there are few inferential studies in the Colombian population. The structural equation models used in controlled social sciences to explain this problem and their analytical power allow generalisations to be made with a certain degree of precision. These analyses require a large amount of data for robust estimation, which limits their usability when there are restrictions to access the data, as is the case today due to Covid-19, and a question that stands out in these models is the evaluation of the fit. Through a set of 1,200 simulated data, an appropriate model fit was found (x5242 = 1.732,300, p < 0,001, CFI = 0.97, GFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.04[0.042-o.046], SRMR = 0.06) for the predictors of depression and perceived burdensomeness, which were analysed using the JASP program. The role of thwarted belongingness is discussed, as well as the appropriateness of the assessment instrument used to evaluate it an considerations regarding suicidal ideation monitoring, evaluation and intervention in medical students.

Socio-economic and psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in a Spanish cohort BIOVAL-D-COVID-19 study protocol.

OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has a negative psychological impact among general population. Data comparing mental health status before and during the outbreak is needed. The BIOVAL-D-COVID-19 study assess the socio-economic and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in a representative sample of non-institutionalized Spanish adult population, and estimate the incidence of mental health disorders, including suicidal behaviours, and possible related factors. METHOD: Observational longitudinal study including two online surveys: baseline survey (T0) performed during 2019 and follow-up survey (T1) conducted 12-month later. The latter included nine sections: socio-demographic, health status, mental health, employment conditions and status, material deprivation, use of healthcare services, intimate partner violence and resilience. Four of the nine sections are administered in T0 and T1 assessments. Longitudinal data analyses will estimate adjusted incidence rates of mental health disorders using Poisson regression models. Risk and protective factors will be analysed through multiple logistic regression models.

Proposal for a Model of Suicidal Ideation in Medical Students in Colombia: A Simulation Study. / Propuesta de un modelo de la ideación suicida en estudiantes de Medicina en Colombia: un estudio de simulación.

Suicidal behaviour is a global public health problem, and one population group with high prevalence rates is medical students, especially in the ideation component. Various models have tried to explain it, but there are few inferential studies in the Colombian population. The structural equation models used in controlled social sciences to explain this problem and their analytical power allow generalisations to be made with a certain degree of precision. These analyses require a large amount of data for robust estimation, which limits their usability when there are restrictions to access the data, as is the case today due to Covid-19, and a question that stands out in these models is the evaluation of the fit. Through a set of 1,200 simulated data, an appropriate model fit was found (x5242=1.732,300;p<0,001, CFI = 0.97, GFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.04[0.042-0.046], SRMR = 0.06) for the predictors of depression and perceived burdensomeness, which were analysed using the JASP program. The role of thwarted belongingness is discussed, as well as the appropriateness of the assessment instrument used to evaluate it an considerations regarding suicidal ideation monitoring, evaluation and intervention in medical students.

Reactive psychoses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: Clinical perspectives from a case series.

INTRODUCTION: The world is currently undergoing an extremely stressful scenario due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This unexpected and dramatic situation could increase the incidence of mental health problems, among them, psychotic disorders. The aim of this paper was to describe a case series of brief reactive psychosis due to the psychological distress from the current coronavirus pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report on a case series including all the patients with reactive psychoses in the context of the COVID-19 crisis who were admitted to the Virgen del Rocío and Virgen Macarena University Hospitals (Seville, Spain) during the first two weeks of compulsory nationwide quarantine. RESULTS: In that short period, four patients met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for a brief reactive psychotic disorder. All of the episodes were directly triggered by stress derived from the COVID-19 pandemic and half of the patients presented severe suicidal behavior at admission. CONCLUSIONS: We may now be witnessing an increasing number of brief reactive psychotic disorders as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This type of psychosis has a high risk of suicidal behavior and, although short-lived, has a high rate of psychotic recurrence and low diagnostic stability over time. Therefore, we advocate close monitoring in both the acute phase and long-term follow-up of these patients.