[Cross-views of positive or negative COVID psychiatric patients on their experience of the health crisis in a COVID unit during the first wave]. / Regards croisés de patients psychiatriques COVID positifs ou négatifs sur leur vécu de la crise sanitaire au sein d'une unité COVID lors de la première vague.

Introduction: Since the beginning of the health crisis, health care personnel have been confronted with an influx of patients with COVID-19. Given the complexity of the situation, the reorganization of care was done on an emergency basis to ensure careful management to limit the spread of the disease among health care personnel and patients. As patients suffering from psychiatric disorders were not spared, the Ville-Evrard Public Health Establishment set up a strategy to deal with this crisis by setting up a COVID+ unit specialized in the care of patients suffering from mental disorders and infected by the Coronavirus. Patients diagnosed as positive by PCR test were transferred to this unit so that they could benefit from a global management.Aim of the study: The aim of our work was to focus on psychiatric patients (whether they were carriers of the COVID-19 virus or not) on their experiences during the health crisis in the first wave from March to June 2020, during the first containment.Materials and methods: We have developed a semi-structured questionnaire composed of 8 questions, allowing to explore different aspects of the experience of the health crisis. We interviewed 12 patients (six patients affected by COVID-19 and six unaffected patients) with different mental disorders. The patients expressed themselves freely and their answers to the questions were presented question by question and separated according to the two groups. The first question was intended only for patients in the first cluster infected with the Coronavirus and the second question for patients with a family member infected with the virus.Results: For the first question, two patients among the six infected with the Coronavirus, expressed anxiety. For the second question, two patients in the Covid+ group had a family member who had contracted the virus. One patient felt guilty, and one patient was anxious. In the Covid- group, one patient whose spouse had contracted the virus was very worried. For the third question, in the Covid+ group, four of the six patients were compliant with containment, two patients were not. In the Covid- group, four patients experienced containment between home and the hospital, and two patients experienced the entire containment at home. Regarding the fourth question, all patients (in both groups) acknowledged that the health crisis had a significant impact on their lifestyle. In response to the fifth question, all patients in the Covid+ group talked about their stay in the COVID+ unit and its setting. For patients in the Covid- group, the answers were varied mentioning simple means of distraction. For the sixth question, all patients (in both groups) were globally satisfied with their care. Concerning the seventh question, all patients in the Covid+ group thought they had been sufficiently careful without expressing any fear about the risk of contamination. In the Covid- group, the answers were centered on the fear of contracting the virus in the hospital. The responses to the eighth and final question were marked by a glimmer of hope.Conclusion: In the light of this work, the repercussions of this crisis, during the first wave, were generally well experienced by our patients, in the psychiatric environment, with a good awareness of the stakes and the risks incurred but also with a glimmer of hope for a resolution of the situation soon. Finally, most of the psychiatric patients in this sample behaved as respectful citizens during this first wave of confinement.

Prospective survey of psychiatric patients during the first confinement of the COVID 2019 pandemic.

In the early steps of an emerging infectious disease epidemic such as Covid-19, uncertainties about the nature of the disease, its spread and impact can lead to emotional distress. In addition, the studies on confinement during an epidemic have shown a psychological impact of this measure on the feelings of anxiety and depression in the general population. METHOD: We assessed the psychological health of 550 patients followed up in outpatient psychiatry, via a pandemic-related teleconsultation during the first confinement period between March and June 2020. Patients were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the confinement on their personal situation, social relationships, professional activity, anxiety and mood. We also evaluated patients' symptomatology and their quality of life. RESULTS: Patients were well informed about Covid-19 via the media and complied with the confinement and barrier procedures. They appreciated the phone-calls and the teleconsultation follow-up. A small proportion of patients were completely socially isolated mainly at the beginning of the confinement (10%). There was no difference between the beginning and the end of the confinement in terms of depressive and anxiety symptoms or quality of life. The women were more anxious and depressed than men. Only smoking was significantly increased during this period. CONCLUSION: The expected and feared health catastrophe in psychiatry during this first phase of the pandemic in 2020 did not occur. Will the psychiatric wave appear in the "post- pandemic", the future will tell.