IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i3p1174-d489037.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Admissions to a Large Swiss Emergency Department: An Observational Study

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Ambrosetti

    (Emergency Psychiatric Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Emergency (UAUP), Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Laura Macheret

    (Emergency Psychiatric Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Emergency (UAUP), Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Aline Folliet

    (Emergency Psychiatric Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Emergency (UAUP), Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Alexandre Wullschleger

    (Adult Psychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Andrea Amerio

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA)

  • Andrea Aguglia

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Gianluca Serafini

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Paco Prada

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
    Service of Liaison Psychiatry and Crisis Intervention (SPLIC), Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Stefan Kaiser

    (Adult Psychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1206 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Guido Bondolfi

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
    Service of Liaison Psychiatry and Crisis Intervention (SPLIC), Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • François Sarasin

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
    Emergency Medicine Unit, Department of Emergency, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Alessandra Costanza

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
    Department of Psychiatry, ASO Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo Hospital, 15121 Alessandria, Italy)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Ambrosetti & Laura Macheret & Aline Folliet & Alexandre Wullschleger & Andrea Amerio & Andrea Aguglia & Gianluca Serafini & Paco Prada & Stefan Kaiser & Guido Bondolfi & François Sarasin & Aless, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Admissions to a Large Swiss Emergency Department: An Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:3:p:1174-:d:489037
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/3/1174/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/3/1174/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gianluca Serafini & Valentina Maria Parisi & Andrea Aguglia & Andrea Amerio & Gaia Sampogna & Andrea Fiorillo & Maurizio Pompili & Mario Amore, 2020. "A Specific Inflammatory Profile Underlying Suicide Risk? Systematic Review of the Main Literature Findings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Julio Torales & Marcelo O’Higgins & João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia & Antonio Ventriglio, 2020. "The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 317-320, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Aguglia & Andrea Amerio & Alessandra Costanza & Nicolò Parodi & Francesco Copello & Gianluca Serafini & Mario Amore, 2021. "Hopelessness and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Any Role for Mediating Variables?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-10, June.
    2. Georgina Pujolar & Aida Oliver-Anglès & Ingrid Vargas & María-Luisa Vázquez, 2022. "Changes in Access to Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-31, February.
    3. Alessandro Morganti & Andrea Brambilla & Andrea Aguglia & Andrea Amerio & Norberto Miletto & Nicolò Parodi & Chiara Porcelli & Anna Odone & Alessandra Costanza & Carlo Signorelli & Gianluca Serafini &, 2022. "Effect of Housing Quality on the Mental Health of University Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Sean Warwicker & Denise Sant & Adrian Richard & Jake Cutajar & Annalise Bellizzi & Gertrude Micallef & Daniel Refalo & Liberato Camilleri & Anton Grech, 2023. "A Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis of Mental Health Admissions: Measuring the Fallout of the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-14, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Julio Torales & Iván Barrios & Osvaldo Melgarejo & Noelia Ruiz Díaz & Marcelo O’Higgins & Rodrigo Navarro & Diego Amarilla & José Almirón-Santacruz & Israel González-Urbieta & Tomás Caycho-Rod, 2024. "Hope, resilience and subjective happiness among general population of Paraguay in the post COVID-19 pandemic," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(3), pages 489-497, May.
    2. Cudjoe, Dan & Wang, Hong & zhu, Bangzhu, 2022. "Thermochemical treatment of daily COVID-19 single-use facemask waste: Power generation potential and environmental impact analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    3. Hui-Wen Tseng & Ching-Shu Tsai & Yu-Min Chen & Ray C. Hsiao & Fan-Hao Chou & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2021. "Poor Mental Health in Caregivers of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Relationships with Caregivers’ Difficulties in Managing the Children’s Behaviors and Worsened Psychol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Qin Xiang Ng & Kuan Tsee Chee & Michelle Lee Zhi Qing De Deyn & Zenn Chua, 2020. "Staying connected during the COVID-19 pandemic," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 519-520, August.
    5. Becky Leshem & Gabriela Kashy-Rosenbaum & Miriam Schiff & Rami Benbenishty & Ruth Pat-Horenczyk, 2023. "Continuous Exposure to Terrorism during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model in the Israeli Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    6. Clemens Koestner & Viktoria Eggert & Theresa Dicks & Kristin Kalo & Carolina Zähme & Pavel Dietz & Stephan Letzel & Till Beutel, 2022. "Psychological Burdens among Teachers in Germany during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic—Subgroup Analysis from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Online Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, August.
    7. Francesco Demaria & Stefano Vicari, 2023. "Adolescent Distress: Is There a Vaccine? Social and Cultural Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    8. Qingyuan Luo & Peng Zhang & Yijia Liu & Xiujie Ma & George Jennings, 2022. "Intervention of Physical Activity for University Students with Anxiety and Depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention and Control Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Ankica Kosic & Tamara Džamonja Ignjatović & Nebojša Petrović, 2021. "A Cross-Cultural Study of Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic: Some Protective and Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-15, July.
    10. Li, Jianbiao & Zhang, Yanan & Niu, Xiaofei, 2021. "The COVID-19 pandemic reduces trust behavior," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    11. Lígia Passos & Filipe Prazeres & Andreia Teixeira & Carlos Martins, 2020. "Impact on Mental Health Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal and Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    12. Jian-Bin Li & An Yang & Kai Dou & Rebecca Y. M. Cheung, 2020. "Self-Control Moderates the Association Between Perceived Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Mental Health Problems Among the Chinese Public," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-10, July.
    13. Annamalai Alagappan & Sampath Kumar Venkatachary & Leo John Baptist & Ravi Samikannu & Jagdish Prasad & Anitha Immaculate, 2020. "A Comparative Study on Corona Virus Pandemic – What do figures indicate?," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 10(4), pages 161-169.
    14. H Manjula Bai, 2020. "The Socio-Economic Implications of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19): A Review," ComFin Research, Shanlax Journals, vol. 8(4), pages 8-17, October.
    15. Adrija Roy & Arvind Kumar Singh & Shree Mishra & Aravinda Chinnadurai & Arun Mitra & Ojaswini Bakshi, 2021. "Mental health implications of COVID-19 pandemic and its response in India," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(5), pages 587-600, August.
    16. Francesca Gorini & Kyriazoula Chatzianagnostou & Annamaria Mazzone & Elisa Bustaffa & Augusto Esposito & Sergio Berti & Fabrizio Bianchi & Cristina Vassalle, 2020. "“Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Time of COVID-19”: A Review of Biological, Environmental, and Psychosocial Contributors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-17, October.
    17. Amer Habibullah & Nawaf Alhajaj & Ahmad Fallatah, 2022. "One-Kilometer Walking Limit during COVID-19: Evaluating Accessibility to Residential Public Open Spaces in a Major Saudi City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.
    18. Ryan, Sophia C. & Sugg, Margaret M. & Runkle, Jennifer D. & Wertis, Luke & Singh, Devyani & Green, Shannon, 2024. "Short-term changes in mental health help-seeking behaviors following exposure to multiple social stressors and a natural disaster," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    19. Marla Andréia Garcia de Avila & Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho & Francine Letícia da Silva Jacob & Léia Regina Souza Alcantara & Malin Berghammer & Margaretha Jenholt Nolbris & Patricia Olaya-Contreras & , 2020. "Children’s Anxiety and Factors Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study Using the Children’s Anxiety Questionnaire and the Numerical Rating Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-13, August.
    20. Maria Didriksen & Thomas Werge & Janna Nissen & Michael Schwinn & Erik Sørensen & Kaspar R. Nielsen & Mie T. Bruun & Karina Banasik & Thomas F. Hansen & Christian Erikstrup & Sisse R. Ostrowski & Poul, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Sleep Quality, Stress Level and Health-Related Quality of Life—A Large Prospective Cohort Study on Adult Danes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:3:p:1174-:d:489037. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.