Emergency Psychiatry before and during COVID-19 pandemia

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact worldwide. Consultations in the Emergency Service of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona varied in terms of reasons for consultations, psychopathology, and other aspects, before and after the pandemic. Objective(s) To examine changes in the profile of patients admitted before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to our Psychiatric Emergency Service. Method(s) All children, adolescent and adult psychiatric inpatients admitted from December 4th 2019 to March 31st 2021 to the Psychiatric Emergency Service of Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain, were retrospectively included for analysis and divided into two groups -groups 1 or 2- including the first one all patients who attended before lockdown and the second group those who attended during the pandemic. Result(s) A total of 1991 patients were included -1224 in the first group and 767 in the second group. The majority of patients were male (52.08%), with a mean age of 41.21 years (SD 16.53). A proportion significantly higher of men was found in the second group (p<0.05). The proportion of patients consulting with substance use disorders was significantly higher in the second group (p<0.05). Patients from the second group presented a significantly higher proportion of admissions in an acute psychiatric ward (p<0.05), and also a significantly higher proportion of consultations of patients with dementia (p<0.05). Conclusion(s) The COVID-19 pandemic lead to a significant reduction in the overall consultations, with a higher proportion of severe cases. The lack of availability of caregivers and telework might have influenced the increase in consultations of patients with dementia.