The COVID-19 Global Pandemic: Implications for People With Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

Kozloff, Nicole; Mulsant, Benoit H.; Stergiopoulos, Vicky; Voineskos, Aristotle N.

doi:10.1093/schbul/sbaa051

Cited by 331 publications

(424 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…This includes continued access to medicines and treatments for those with long-term mental health conditions since sudden discontinuation should be avoided (WHO, 2020g). Worsening of mental health may be greater in patients with conditions such as schizophrenia with challenges in continuing active case management in the community during the pandemic as well as concerns with administering long-acting injections where pertinent, and performing regular blood tests in patients prescribed clozapine (Kozloff et al, 2020). Pro-active and timely support is needed for all patients with mental health conditions to avoid deteriorating conditions (Endomba et al, 2020;Salum et al, 2020;WHO, 2020g;Xiang et al, 2020).…”

Section: Consequences Of Lockdown and Other Measures To Prevent And Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future

Ogunleye

Basu

Mueller³

et al. 2020

Front. Pharmacol.

172

215

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed considerable lives. There are major concerns in Africa due to existing high prevalence rates for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and limited resources in terms of personnel, beds and equipment. Alongside this, concerns that lockdown and other measures will have on prevention and management of other infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are an increasing issue with rising morbidity and mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that a lack of nets and treatment could result in up to 18 million additional cases of malaria and up to 30,000 additional deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: Document current prevalence and mortality rates from COVID-19 alongside economic and other measures to reduce its spread and impact across Africa. In addition, suggested ways forward among all key stakeholder groups. Our Approach: Contextualise the findings from a wide range of publications including internet-based publications coupled with input from senior-level personnel. Ongoing Activities: Prevalence and mortality rates are currently lower in Africa than among several Western countries and the USA. This could be due to a number of factors including early instigation of lockdown and border closures, the younger age of the population, lack of robust reporting systems and as yet unidentified genetic and other factors. Innovation is accelerating to address concerns with available equipment. There are ongoing steps to address the level of misinformation and its consequences including fines. There are also ongoing initiatives across Africa to start addressing the unintended consequences of COVID-19 activities including lockdown measures and their impact on Ogunleye et al. COVID-19 in Africa NCDs including the likely rise in mental health disorders, exacerbated by increasing stigma associated with COVID-19. Strategies include extending prescription lengths, telemedicine and encouraging vaccination. However, these need to be accelerated to prevent increased morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: There are multiple activities across Africa to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and address misinformation, which can have catastrophic consequences, assisted by the WHO and others, which appear to be working in a number of countries. Research is ongoing to clarify the unintended consequences given ongoing concerns to guide future activities. Countries are learning from each other.

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Section: Consequences Of Lockdown and Other Measures To Prevent And Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future

Ogunleye

Basu

Mueller³

et al. 2020

Front. Pharmacol.

172

215

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Beyond the immediate changes to services seen in the early stages of the pandemic, there are many potential challenges that are specific to mental health care. These include difficulties in implementing infection control and social distancing guidance in settings where people may be very distressed or cognitively impaired [4], especially in mental health wards and the supported accommodation settings where many people with complex mental health problems live [5]. Face-to-face meetings are usually central to mental health care: severe restrictions to this seem likely to greatly alter staff and service user experiences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact on mental health care and on mental health service users of the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods survey of UK mental health care staff

Johnson

Dalton-Locke

Juan

et al. 2020

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

184

250

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Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has potential to disrupt and burden the mental health care system, and to magnify inequalities experienced by mental health service users. Methods We investigated staff reports regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in its early weeks on mental health care and mental health service users in the UK using a mixed methods online survey. Recruitment channels included professional associations and networks, charities, and social media. Quantitative findings were reported with descriptive statistics, and content analysis conducted for qualitative data. Results 2,180 staff from a range of sectors, professions, and specialties participated. Immediate infection control concerns were highly salient for inpatient staff, new ways of working for community staff. Multiple rapid adaptations and innovations in response to the crisis were described, especially remote working. This was cautiously welcomed but found successful in only some clinical situations. Staff had specific concerns about many groups of service users, including people whose conditions are exacerbated by pandemic anxieties and social disruptions; people experiencing loneliness, domestic abuse and family conflict; those unable to understand and follow social distancing requirements; and those who cannot engage with remote care. Conclusion This overview of staff concerns and experiences in the early COVID-19 pandemic suggests directions for further research and service development: we suggest that how to combine infection control and a therapeutic environment in hospital, and how to achieve effective and targeted tele-health implementation in the community, should be priorities. The limitations of our convenience sample must be noted.

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“…As a result of their increased rates of medical co-morbidity, they might be considered an atrisk group for poorer outcomes, should they contract COVID-19 (Kozloff et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and its effect on emergency presentations to a tertiary hospital with self-harm in Ireland

McIntyre

Tong

McMahon

et al. 2020

Ir. j. psychol. Med.

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Objectives This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on presentations to an acute hospital with self-harm. Methods All presentations to University Hospital Galway with self-harm were assessed during the peak period of the coronavirus crisis in Ireland, over the three months from 1st March to 31st May 2020. These data were compared with presentations in the same months in the three years preceding (2017-2019). Data were obtained from the anonymised service database. Results This study found that in 2020, the rate of presentation with self-harm dropped by 35% from March to April and rose by 104% from April to May, peaking from mid-May. When trends over a four-year period were examined, there was a significantly higher lethality of attempt (p<0.001), and significant differences in diagnosis (p=0.031) in 2020 in comparison with the three previous years. The increased lethality of presentations remained significant after age and gender were controlled for (p=0.036). There were also significant differences in the underlying psychiatric diagnoses(p=0.018), notably with a significant increase in substance misuse disorders presenting during the 2020 study period. Conclusions COVID-19 showed a reduction in self-harm presentations initially, followed by a sharp increase in May 2020. If a period of economic instability follows as predicted, it is likely that this will further impact the mental health of the population, along with rates of self-harm and suicidal behaviours. There is a need for research into the longer-term effect of the restrictions and changes due to Covid-19, especially with respect to self-harm.

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The COVID-19 Global Pandemic: Implications for People With Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

Cited by 331 publications

References 52 publications

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future

Impact on mental health care and on mental health service users of the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods survey of UK mental health care staff

COVID-19 and its effect on emergency presentations to a tertiary hospital with self-harm in Ireland

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