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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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. 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.
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    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.

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