Examination of the impact of COVID-19 public health quarantine measures on acute mental health care services: A retrospective observational study

Abstract

This study assesses for the impact of Covid-19 public health quarantine measures on acute care psychiatric admissions, by comparing admission data from the quarantine period to a comparator period. A chart review was conducted for all admissions to an urban acute care psychiatric centre from Mar 22 – June 5 2020 (quarantine) and January 5 – Mar 21 2020 (comparator). Data was collected on the number of admissions, demographics, patients’ psychiatric history, characteristics of admissions, discharge information, patients’ substance use and social factors. Data was analyzed using a student's t-test for continuous variables and Chi squared analyses for categorical variables. Results demonstrated 185 admissions during quarantine and 190 during the comparator, with no significant differences in the distribution of admissions across time periods. There was a significantly greater frequency of admissions in the 35-44 age bracket and admissions involving substance use during quarantine. Additionally, admissions during quarantine were significantly shorter, with increased frequency of involuntary status and use of seclusion. The data suggests a vulnerability specific to individuals in their 30-40s during quarantine and demonstrates a need to better understand factors impacting this group. It also suggests that quarantine is associated with changes to substance use, potentiating high acuity illness requiring admission.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Inpatient Admissions for Psychotic and Affective Disorders: The Experience of a Large Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Romania

“…Our research is in line with these previous results. On the other hand, other studies identified no significant differences in the number of hospitalized patients [ 14 , 19 , 26 , 27 ]. Moreover, we found that the overall reduction in admissions affected all diagnoses, with the exception of delusional disorder.…”

“…Younger people are a special category who are more vulnerable to stress and who were at an increased risk of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, as outlined by different research reports [ 7 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. Nejati et al (2021) observed an increase in admissions among the 35–44 age group [ 27 ]. Additionally, decreased age was found to predict inpatient admissions during lockdown [ 25 ].…”

Long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) prescribing trends during COVID-19 restrictions in Canada: a retrospective observational study

“…This study aimed to fill gaps in knowledge regarding delivery of mental health care during a pandemic by examining LAI prescribing practices during unique time frames prior to and during the pandemic. While there is some limited research on mental health effects of prolonged quarantine on overall mental health status of populations [ 12 – 14 ], there does not appear to be any Canadian data on changes in prescribing practices during the pandemic; specifically, changes in LAI prescribing in schizophrenia and related psychoses. We do not know if during the pandemic LAI use was increased or decreased due to the changes in healthcare delivery and public health restrictions.…”

COVID-19 pandemic in a mental health ward: inpatient admissions, use of mechanical restraint and aggressions

“…The reduction in admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic coincide with the majority of international studies [13,14,16] that also found a reduction in psychiatric emergency visits [17,18], although other studies have not reported differences [19]. Several factors may be in uencing these results; for example, the government's recommendations to stay away from health services, fear of being infected during the pandemic and the tendency of professionals to be more restrictive to admit patients.…”

“…Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) is an infectious disease that has caused a global pandemic due to its serious health consequences and high mortality rate [1]. The disease is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and in Spain, the evolution and consequences have been signi cantly more severe compared to other countries, especially during the rst wave of the pandemic [2,3].…”