Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-27gpq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T05:39:55.342Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Changes in psychiatric emergencies during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in El Bierzo (Spain)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

Y. Zapico-Merayo
Affiliation:
Hospital El Bierzo. GASBI. SACYL, Psiquiatría Y Salud Mental, Ponferrada, Spain
J.M. Pelayo-Terán*
Affiliation:
Hospital El Bierzo. GASBI. SACYL, Psiquiatría Y Salud Mental, Ponferrada, Spain
S. Vega-García
Affiliation:
Hospital El Bierzo. GASBI. SACYL, Psiquiatría Y Salud Mental, Ponferrada, Spain
M.E. Garcia Llamas
Affiliation:
Hospital El Bierzo. GASBI. SACYL, Psiquiatría Y Salud Mental, Ponferrada, Spain
R. Landera-Rodríguez
Affiliation:
Hospital El Bierzo. GASBI. SACYL, Psiquiatría Y Salud Mental, Ponferrada, Spain
A. Espandian
Affiliation:
Hospital El Bierzo. GASBI. SACYL, Psiquiatría Y Salud Mental, Ponferrada, Spain
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Introduction

The interest have focused in the effects of COVID-19 in mental symptoms. However, the pandemic and restrictions such as the lockdown decreed in Spain limited access to resources and lead to a change in assistance organization.

Objectives

to compare the incidence and characteristics of psychiatric emergencies during the Spanish 2020 Lockdown with the same period in 2019

Methods

All the emergencies attended the the emergency room (Hospital El Bierzo) From 01/02/2019 to 30/06/2019 and those from 01/02/2020 to 30/06/2020 were analysed by two senior psychiatrists. Cases were selected if attended by any psychiatric reason. The cases were evalueated identifying ICD-10 diagnosis (according to clinical records and best criteria matching), sociodemographics, factors associated to the emergency and resolution.

Results

23360 cases were attended in 2019 (799 psychiatric), 14907 (578) in 2020. That means a 36.19% of reduction in general emergencies and 27.66% in psychiatric emergencies (psychiatric emergencies proportion increased form 3.42% to 4.03%). The reduction started the week just before the lockdown declaration, minimal records coincided with the highest COVID-19 incidence and the recovery starts in early june for psychiatric and late June for general emergencies (figure 1). A decrease of 62.79% of anxiety cases and 45.9% of depresion was observed with no incresaes in any diagnosis. A slight increase in suicide attempts (two cases) was observed.

Conclusions

The lockdown seem to decrease psychiatric emergency care. Only suicidability was maintained/increased during the period. Psychiatry services must be aware of the risk of unattended inicidence that may cause an increase of cases after the lockdown.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.