Effects of lockdown on emergency room admissions for psychiatric evaluation: an observational study from the AUSL Romagna, Italy

Beghi, Massimiliano; Brandolini, Riccardo; Casolaro, Ilaria; Beghi, Ettore; Cornaggia, C; Fraticelli, Carlo; Paoli, Giovanni De; Ravani, Claudio; Castelpietra, Giulio; Ferrari, Silvia

doi:10.1080/13651501.2020.1859120

Cited by 39 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Our finding of increased ED presentation by patients with psychotic disorders agrees with previous studies ( Ferrando et al., 2020 ; Pignon et al., 2020 ; Rodriques-Jimenez et al., 2021 ) but it differs from some studies ( Ambrosetti et al., 2021 ; Beghi et al., 2020 ; Gonçalves-Pinho et al., 2020 ). The finding of reduced ED access by mood disorders as a group concurs earlier studies ( Ambrosetti et al., 2021 ; Beghi et al., 2020 ; Capuzzi et al., 2020 ; Gonçalves-Pinho et al., 2020 ; Hoyer et al., 2020 ) but disagrees with others ( Rodriques-Jimenez et al., 2021 ). Some studies reported no difference in the access for the entire group of SMIs ( Gomez-Ramior et al., 2021 ; McAndrew et al., 2020 ; Montalbani et al., 2020 ) or only for mood disorders ( Pignon et al., 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…(2021) observed a decrease in ED presentations for psychotic disorders, depression/anxiety disorders, and manic/hypomanic episode in the pandemic period. Beghi et al. (2020) found a decrease in psychotic disorders and an increase in mood disorders, although there was a decrease in absolute number of patients for both disorders, during the lockdown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Individuals with mental illnesses experience the negative psychological effects of public health measures more ( Hao et al., 2020 ). Contrary to these data highlighting the increased risk for and occurrence of mental health problems, studies show a 15–60% decline in emergency department (ED) visits for acute psychiatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown ( Beghi et al., 2020 ; Capuzzi et al., 2020 ; Hoyer et al., 2020 ; Goncalves-Pinho et al., 2020 ; Montalbani et al., 2020 ; McAndrew et al., 2020 ; Pham-Scottez et al., 2020 ; Pignon et al., 2020 ; Dragovic et al., 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“… 0.2% decrease ( n = 10, 1.7% from 13, 1.9%) in manic/hypomanic episode; 14% decrease ( n = 175, 30.2% from 310, 44.2%) in depression/anxiety ( p <0.001 for overall group difference). Beghi et al. (2020) Italy March 9-May 3, 2019 vs March 9-May 3, 2020.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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A 6-month study on the pattern of emergency department presentations for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders during COVID-19 lockdown

Jagadheesan

Danivas

Itrat

et al. 2021

Psychiatry Research

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This study investigated the characteristics of patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders presenting to emergency departments (ED) for psychiatric treatment during the first six months of the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne. This cross-sectional data-base study included adult patients in the North West Area Mental Health Service's catchment area who had visited two emergency departments (EDs) during the study period (March 16-September 16, 2020) and the control period (March 16-September 16, 2019). Compared to the control period ( n = 467), the lockdown period ( n = 451) had a 6.8% more psychotic disorders. This increase was particularly noted for schizophrenia and acute transient psychosis. In a sub-analysis of psychotic disorder group alone, compared to the control period, more patients were discharged to the community in the lockdown period. In another sub-analysis, compared to the mood disorder group, psychotic disorder group included more patients in 26–35 and 46–55 age groups, men, emergency triage category, and hospital admissions and higher mean duration of ED stay in the lockdown period. Overall, patients with psychotic disorders had increased ED presentations and appeared to be in an emergency state when they present to ED during the lockdown.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A 6-month study on the pattern of emergency department presentations for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders during COVID-19 lockdown

Jagadheesan

Danivas

Itrat

et al. 2021

Psychiatry Research

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“…The decrease involved all diagnostic categories except for personality disorders, alcohol, substance abuse disorders and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Similarly, in a study carried out in Emilia Romagna Region a 15% reduction was found in psychiatric referrals to the HEDs from the beginning of the lockdown to the 3rd of May 2020, which was almost doubled during the first month ( 25 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Emergency Psychiatric Consultations During and After the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy. A Multicentre Study

et al. 2021

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Aims: The aim was to analyse the psychiatric consultations in nine Italian hospital emergency departments, by comparing the lockdown and post-lockdown periods of 2020 with the equivalent periods of 2019.Methods: Characteristics of psychiatric consultations, patients, and drug prescriptions were analyzed. Joinpoint models were used to identify changes in the weekly trend of consultations.Results: A 37.5% decrease in the number of consultations was seen during the lockdown period and 17.9% after the lockdown. The number of individual patients seen decreased by 34.9% during the lockdown and 11.2% after the lockdown. A significant change in the number of consultations from week 11 to week 18 occurred, followed by a gradual increase. There was a higher percentage of patients with previous psychiatric hospitalizations during the lockdown period (61.1 vs. 56.3%) and a lower percentage after the lockdown (59.7 vs. 64.7%). During the lockdown there was a large increase in psychiatric consultations for substance use disorders, whereas more consultations for manic episodes occurred after the lockdown. A 3.4% decrease was observed in consultations for suicidal ideation and planning during the lockdown, followed by an upward rebound after the lockdown, along with an increase in consultations for suicide attempts. During lockdown antipsychotic and benzodiazepine prescriptions increased by 5.2 and 4.1%, respectively. After the lockdown, the number of compulsory hospitalizations was higher than in 2019.Conclusions: We observed a decrease of psychiatric consultations during and after the lockdown. There was an increase in consultations for manic episodes and suicidality after the lockdown. The focus of psychiatric services must remain high particularly in this latter period.

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Mid-term psychiatric consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 4 months observational study on emergency room admissions for psychiatric evaluation after the (first) lockdown period in Italy

Beghi

Ferrari

Biondi

et al. 2022

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

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Purpose The aim of our study is to evaluate the number and the features of admissions to the emergency room (ER) requiring psychiatric consultation, in the period between May 4th and August 31st 2020. Methods We carried out a retrospective longitudinal observational study examining the 4 months following the initial lockdown imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak (May 4th and August 31st 2020). More specifically, the ER admissions leading to psychiatric referral were reviewed at all seven public hospitals of AUSL Romagna (Emilia Romagna region, Italy). Socio-demographic variables, history of medical comorbidities or psychiatric disorders, reason for ER admission, psychiatric diagnosis at discharge, and actions taken by the psychiatrist were collected. Results An 11.3% ( p = 0.007) increase in psychiatric assessments was observed when compared with the same period of the previous year (2019). A positive personal history of psychiatric disorders (OR:0.68, CI: 0.53–0.87) and assessments leading to no indication for follow-up (OR: 0.22, CI: 0.13–0.39) were significantly less frequent, while there was a significant increase of cases featuring organic comorbidities (OR: 1.24, CI: 1.00–1.52) and suicidal ideation/self-harm/suicide attempt (OR: 1,71, CI: 1.19–2.45) or psychomotor agitation (OR: 1.46, CI: 1.02–2.07) as reason for admission. Conclusions Our results showed an increase in ER psychiatric consultations compared to the previous year, underlying the increased psychological distress caused by the lockdown.

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Effects of lockdown on emergency room admissions for psychiatric evaluation: an observational study from the AUSL Romagna, Italy

Cited by 39 publications

References 12 publications

A 6-month study on the pattern of emergency department presentations for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders during COVID-19 lockdown

A 6-month study on the pattern of emergency department presentations for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders during COVID-19 lockdown

Emergency Psychiatric Consultations During and After the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy. A Multicentre Study

Mid-term psychiatric consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 4 months observational study on emergency room admissions for psychiatric evaluation after the (first) lockdown period in Italy

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