The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Emergency Department Visits - A Descriptive Study

Psychiatr Q. 2021 Jun;92(2):621-631. doi: 10.1007/s11126-020-09837-z.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19) has an important direct and indirect impact on both physical and mental health. We aim to describe the impact of an emergency state period due to COVID-19 on psychiatric emergency department (ED) visits. We conducted a retrospective observational study analysing all emergency visits occurring at a metropolitan psychiatric ED between March 19th and May 2nd 2019 and 2020 (the beginning/end date of the emergency state which Portugal was under due to COVID-19). Data regarding age, sex, diagnoses, admission date, discharge destiny and status were collected. Diagnoses were classified using the International Classification of Diseases version 9, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). There was a 52·2% decrease on the number of psychiatric emergency visits during the emergency state period (n2020 = 780 vs n2019 = 1633 episodes). The decrease on psychiatric ED visits was greater in the female sex and in the younger age groups. Episodes with a primary diagnosis of Mood disorders lead the decrease on psychiatric ED visits with 68·3% less episodes. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders was the diagnosis group with the smaller decline (9·8% decrease). COVID-19 emergency state period had an important impact on the number and characteristics of psychiatric ED visits, reinforcing the great indirect effects of COVID-19 on mental health.

Keywords: Administrative database; Emergency service; Mental health; Pandemics.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers / statistics & numerical data
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19*
  • Emergency Services, Psychiatric / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Portugal
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult