Profile of patients attending psychiatric emergency care during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic: a comparative cross-sectional study between lockdown and post-lockdown periods in Lombardy, Italy.
Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract
; 26(2): 132-138, 2022 Jun.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1276060
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the long-term impact of early COVID-19 lockdown phase on emergency psychiatric consultations in two psychiatric emergency departments located in Italy.METHODS:
We conducted a cross-sectional study comparing the number and characteristics of emergency psychiatric consultations during post-lockdown with respect to the lockdown period. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, referred symptoms, diagnosis, information on multiple psychiatric consultations and hospitalisation were collected.RESULTS:
A rise of almost 60% in emergency psychiatric consultations during the post-lockdown compared to the lockdown period was observed. Emergency psychiatric consultations in the post-lockdown period were associated with lower rates of cannabis (aOR = 0.42, p = 0.011) and cocaine use (aOR = 0.39, p = 0.011). Despite a lower occurrence of two or more psychiatric consultations was observed during post-lockdown phase (aOR = 0.44, p = 0.008), subjects who had anxiety disorders (aOR = 3.91, p = 0.000) and substance intoxication or withdrawal (aOR = 6.89, p = 0.000) were more likely to present to emergency psychiatric consultations during post-lockdown period compared to the lockdown one.CONCLUSIONS:
Substance intoxication or withdrawal and anxiety disorders increased after the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings of this study suggest to address more economic and professional sources to the mental health areas potentially more affected by the different phases of a pandemic.KEYPOINTSCOVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures increased mental health unmet needs.According to our findings, a rise in emergency psychiatric consultations during the post-lockdown compared to the lockdown period was observed.Patients with substance intoxication or withdrawal syndrome and anxiety disorders were significantly more likely to present to emergency psychiatric consultations during post-lockdown.Lockdown was associated with higher rates of both cannabis and cocaine use disorders as well as of multiple psychiatric consultations.Alternative strategies to improve mental health such as e-health technologies should be promoted.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cocaine
/
Emergency Services, Psychiatric
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
13651501.2021.1939385
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