COMPARISON OF REFERRALS TO A UNIVERSITY CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY OUT-PATIENT UNIT BEFORE AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Journal Title: Kocatepe Medical Journal - Year 2022, Vol 23, Issue 4
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: It’s essential to carefully assess and define the effects of illness conception and precautions related to COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to it’s physical effects, on children followed-up in psychiatry clinics. We aimed to define the effects of pandemic on patient profile and clinical practice by comparing child psychiatry out-patient unit referrals before and during the pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All child psychiatry out-patient referrals during 14-months periods before (before pandemic [BP]) and after (during pandemic [DP]) the official announce of first COVID-19 case in Turkey on 11 March 2020 were retrospectively examined. First (PFP) and second (PSP) 7-months periods of DP were additionally explored. Age, gender and psychiatric problems of all referrals were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Total referrals decreased by 45.9% in DP compared to BP and increased by 82.5% in PSP compared to PFP. For the diagnoses, rates of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and depressive disorders significantly decreased; whereas obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, learning disorders and personality disorders significantly increased in DP compared to BP (p<0.001 for each). Rates of personality disorders significantly increased; whereas conduct disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and anxiety disorders significantly decreased in PSP compared to PFP (p<0.001 for each). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the psychological stressors came along with COVID-19 pandemic, dropping rates of referrals in DP shows these individuals cannot access psychiatric support even if they need it. Sharp increase in referral rates in PSP might implicate growing demand for psychiatric support in the long run. Further studies with larger samples and longitudinal design are needed in order to fully define how and to what extend psychiatric problems are effected by COVID-19 pandemic.
Authors and Affiliations
Mert BESENEK Doğancan SÖNMEZ Burak OKUMUŞ
Keywords
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- EP ID EP709859
- DOI https://doi.org/10.18229/kocatepetip.986672
- Views 82
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