Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Admissions to a Large Swiss Emergency Department

An Observational Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15483502
AuthorsJulia Ambrosetti (0000-0002-5775-4589, corresponding author), Laura Macheret, Aline Folliet, Alexandre Wullschleger (0000-0001-9282-8064, University Hospital of Geneva), Andrea Amerio (0000-0002-3439-340X, Tufts University), Andrea Aguglia (0000-0002-2003-2101, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino), Gianluca Serafini (0000-0002-6631-856X, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino), Paco Prada (0000-0002-9283-1076, University of Geneva), Stefan Kaiser (0000-0002-3013-2034, University of Geneva), Guido Bondolfi (0000-0002-4352-5531, University of Geneva), François Sarasin (0000-0002-1169-8526, University of Geneva), Alessandra Costanza (0000-0001-6387-6462, University of Geneva)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue3
Pages1174-1174
Publication date2021-01-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18031174
PMID33525740
OpenAlexW3125297532
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited21

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a public health emergency with profound mental health consequences. The psychiatric emergency department (ED) plays a key role during this mental health crisis. This study aimed to investigate differences in admissions at a Swiss psychiatric ED from 1 April to 15 May during a "pandemic-free" period in 2016 and a "during-pandemic" period in 2020. The study included 579 consultations at psychiatric ED in the "during-pandemic" period and 702 in the "pandemic-free" period. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were compared, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with psychiatric admissions during the pandemic. A reduction in total psychiatric ED admissions was documented during COVID-19. Logistic regression analysis predicted the independent variable (ED admission during the pandemic) and estimated odds ratio (OR) for being unmarried/not in a relationship, arrival in an ambulance, suicidal behavior, behavioral disorders and psychomotor agitation. Though only statistically significant in bivariate analysis, patients were also more likely to be involuntarily hospitalized. This picture appears to be reversed from a sociodemographic and clinical point of view to our observation of psychiatric ED consultation in 2016. These findings highlight that the reduction in psychiatric ED admissions during the pandemic seems to be associated with living alone and more severe psychopathologies, which must alert psychiatrists to ensure access to mental health care in times of pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Emergency department · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Logistic regression · Mental health · Observational study · Odds ratio · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Public health · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Emergency and Acute Care Studies · Medicine · Nursing · Emergency Medicine