There is considerable interest in exploring effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health. Suicide is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and changes in daily life brought by the pandemic may be additional risk factors in people with pre-existing mental disorders. This rapid PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) scoping review aims to identify and analyze current evidence about the relation between COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, along with COVID-19 disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection, and suicide in individuals with previously diagnosed mental disorders. First, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature, then proceeded to discuss findings in a narrative way. Tables were constructed and articles sorted according to the studies’ methodologies. 53 papers were eventually identified as eligible, among which 33 are cross-sectional studies, 9 are longitudinal studies, and 11 studies using other methodologies. Despite suffering from a mental disorder is a risk factor for suicidal behavior per se, the advent of COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate this relation. Nevertheless, data addressing a clear correlation between suicidal behavior and the pandemic outbreak are still controversial. Longitudinal analysis using validated suicide scales and multicenter studies could provide deeper insight and knowledge about this topic.
IntroductionAlthough the role of SARS-CoV2 pandemic on psychiatric Emergency Department (ED) encounters, has been analysed, few studies have focused on the pandemic influence on patients’ characteristics and admission rates in a psychiatric ward.ObjectivesThe aim of this cross-sectional study is to analyse characteristics of patients admitted in the psychiatric ward of “San Salvatore” Hospital in L’Aquila (Italy) in a three-year timeframe, from 2019 to 2021, and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on admission trends over the course of these three years.MethodsWe collected data regarding 1115 patients from the hospital discharge summaries (Scheda di Dimissione Ospedaliera, SDO) of “San Salvatore” Hospital. Patients were sorted according to diagnosis, year of admission and age range. Comparison of mean values from each group was attained using the Student’s t-test, while percentages and ratios were compared by means of the Chi-Square test.ResultsBetween January 2019 and December 2021, 1115 patients were admitted in our psychiatric ward. In 2020, during pandemic outbreak, we observed a reduction of the number of admissions, with 351 patients. Although no statistically significant differences were found regarding patients’ gender or age, we observed a higher number of male patients admitted during all three years (male/female ratio: 231/171 in 2019, 217/134 in 2020 and 192/170 in 2021). Admission rates of patients aged between 18 to 30 years were higher during 2020 and 2021, conversely in the previous year the most represented group were patients aged between 41 to 50 years. Regarding diagnostic categories, percentages remained relatively steady during the three years. Nevertheless, it was possible to observe a slight reduction of Schizo-Psychotic disorders (175/402; 45,53% in 2019, 135/351; 38.46% in 2020 and 119/362; 32,87% in 2021) and a slighter reduction of Personality disorders percentages (49/402; 12,19% in 2019, 37/351; 10,54% in 2020 and 36/362; 9,94% in 2021). Conversely, results showed an increase in admission of patients with substance use disorder: 24 out of 402 patients (5,97%) in 2019, 32 out of 351 patients (9,12%) in 2020, and 46 out of 362 patients (12,71%) in 2021.Image 2:Image 3:ConclusionsDespite biases due to the one-site evaluation, the strength of the present study relies in the retrospectively cross-sectional observation design conducted to evaluate a three-year timeframe, spanning throughout the pandemic. The sharp reduction of admissions rates in 2020, is in line with other data regarding ED accesses’ trends during pandemic. Increasing rates of admission of patients between 18 and 30 years could be a result of a stronger impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health. Moreover, increasing trends of admission of patients with substance abuse disorders may be potentially addressed to distress symptoms brought by the pandemic.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
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