Characteristics of patients treated for suicidal behavior during the pandemic in a psychiatric emergency department in a Spanish province.

INTRODUCTION: Different studies have suggested that psychological, social and economic factors could contribute to an increase in the suicide. That is why the scientific community fear an epidemic of suicides secondary to this crisis. The objective is to evaluate the variables related to suicidal behavior during the two states of alarm and to review if there were sociodemographic or clinical differences with respect to periods prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared visits to the emergency room and their characteristics of all patients with suicidal behavior before and after the pandemic in Lérida. Information on sociodemographic status, reason for consultation, diagnosis and characteristics of suicidal behavior was obtained from the electronic medical record. RESULTS: No differences were observed in the percentage of suicidal ideation or attempts in the three periods (p=0.201). The characteristics in the multiple logistic regression associated with suicidal behavior are: being a woman (OR: 1.81 [1.27-2.56]), living with relatives (OR: 1.55 [1.05-2.32]) and have a diagnosis of non-alcohol related substance use disorder (OR: 1.94 [1.09-3.42]). As protective factors, being visited in the emergency room during the second state of alarm (OR: 0.68 [0.48-0.96]) and having depression (OR: 0.67 [0.47-0.96]). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency care for suicidal behavior did not increase during the pandemic and, in fact, in 2020 completed suicides decreased by almost half in the province. Risk factors for suicide attempt were female gender, living with relatives, and having a substance use disorder diagnosis. Instead, depression was a protective factor.

Trajectories of children and adolescents attending a psychiatric emergency unit during the COVID-19 confinements: 2020-2022 longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders has not shifted widely through the COVID pandemic, except for some specific groups such as young people or women. Our objective is to examine prospectively the evolution of children and adolescents who consulted in a psychiatric emergency service during the COVID-19 confinements. METHOD: We collected prospective clinical information about 296 young people under 18 who visited a tertiary hospital for psychiatric reasons during the confinement periods in Spain. Clinical diagnoses, suicide attempts, hospital admissions, and pharmacological prescriptions were extracted from electronic health records through 2020, 2021, and 2022. Features of those who maintained psychiatric care and those who did not were compared. RESULTS: Three out of four children and adolescents who visited the psychiatric emergency department during the confinements continued psychiatric care at the end of 2022. Those who did not showed better premorbid adjustment at baseline. During follow-up, diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders and eating disorders, as well as the dosage of psychotropic drug prescriptions, increased. The diagnoses of major depressive disorder and eating disorder at baseline were associated with attempting suicide during follow-up. Patients with internalizing symptoms were admitted earlier than those with externalizing symptoms but no differences were found in terms of suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS: The continuity of psychiatric care after an initial emergency visit during the confinements implied greater clinical severity, as reflected by changes in clinical diagnoses and pharmacological regimens. Emergent symptoms of depression or eating disorders after social distancing or isolation could predict subsequent suicidal behavior in young populations.

Emergency care carried out during the pandemic due to substance abuse in a Spanish province. / Atenciones urgentes realizadas durante la pandemia por consumo de tóxicos en una provincia española.

INTRODUCTION: During periods of isolation, people with substance use disorders may reduce tension, stress, uncertainty and possible distress by increasing the use of substances or practices that they have abused. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on emergency care and continuity of care for patients with substance use disorders. METHOD: Study carried out in the only psychiatric emergency service in the province at the Hospital Universitario Santa María de Lérida, which cares for 431,183 people. Sociodemographic, clinical and evolutionary variables were collected from all the patients treated during a period prior to lockdown (January 13, 2020, until March 14, 2020) and during the first (March 15, 2020 until June 20, 2020) and second states of emergency (from October 25, 2020 to May 9, 2021). RESULTS: 908 patients attended with substance use disorder, representing 23.8% of all visits. During the first state of emergency, visits increased (p < 0.001) with a decrease in the average age (p = 0.0023). During the second state of emergency, there was an increase in the use of alcohol with respect to the rest of toxic substances (p < 0.001) and an increase in the visits of patients without prior follow-up (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Substance use disorder consultations increased in the first state of emergency, with patients being younger and attending for reasons related to outpatient discontinuity, while in the second state of emergency, alcohol use increased in people without prior follow-up and with small social networks. Admissions in the first state of emergency were shorter, with no subsequent link to other detoxification treatment centers and with an earlier return to the emergency room, especially in female users.

Introducción: Durante los períodos de aislamiento, las personas con trastornos por uso de sustancias pueden reducir la tensión, el estrés, la incertidumbre y la posible angustia aumentando el uso de sustancias o prácticas de las que han abusado. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el impacto de la pandemia en las atenciones urgentes y continuidad asistencial de pacientes con trastorno por uso de sustancias. Método: Estudio realizado en el único servicio de urgencias de Psiquiatría de la provincia en el Hospital Universitario Santa María de Lérida, que atiende a 431.183 personas. Se recogen variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y evolutivas de todos los pacientes atendidos durante un periodo previo al confinamiento (13 de enero de 2020, hasta el 14 de marzo de 2020) y durante el primer (15 de marzo de 2020 hasta su 20 de junio de 2020) y segundo estado de alarma (desde el 25 de octubre de 2020 hasta el 9 de mayo de 2021). Resultados: 908 pacientes atendidos con Trastorno por Uso de Sustancias, representa el 23,8% de todas las visitas. Durante el primer estado de alarma, aumento de las visitas (p < 0,001) con una disminución de la edad media (p = 0,023). Durante el segundo estado de alarma, aumento del consumo de OH respecto al resto de tóxicos (p < 0,001) y un aumento de las visitas de pacientes sin seguimiento previo (p = 0,005). Conclusiones: Aumentaron las consultas por trastorno por uso de sustancias en el primer estado de alarma siendo más jóvenes y acudiendo por motivos de consulta relacionados con la discontinuidad ambulatoria mientras en el segundo estado de alarma repuntó el consumo de alcohol en personas sin seguimiento previo y con escasa red social. Los ingresos del primer estado de alarma fueron más breves, sin vinculación posterior a otros centros terapéuticos de desintoxicación y con un retorno más precoz a urgencias sobre todo en mujeres consumidoras.

Urgent care and suicidal behavior in the child and adolescent population in a psychiatric emergency department in a Spanish province during the two COVID-19 states of alarm.

Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown may have an impact in mental health among youth, but reports of psychiatry emergency department encounters in young Spanish population are scarce. The aim of this study is to characterize the reasons for psychiatric urgent care of youth during COVID-19 pandemic in our hospital. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study compare visits to the psychiatry emergency department and their characteristics in young patients in the province of Lleida before and after the pandemic with special attention to the two states of alarm and suicidal behavior. Information regarding sociodemographic status, chief complaints, diagnosis, characteristics of suicidal behavior, and other data were obtained from the electronic medical records. Results: Within the total psychiatric emergency attendances, youth patients increased a 83.5% in the second state of alarm (p = 0.001). In this period patients were younger (p = 0.006), had less psychiatric history (p = 0.017) and their living conditions changed with an increase of those living with relatives (p = 0.004). Suicidal ideation care increased without statistical significance (p = 0.073). Multiple logistic regression identifies independent risk factors for suicidal behavior being female (OR: 2.88 [1.39-5.98]), living with relatives (OR: 3.49 [1.43-8.54]), and having a diagnosis of depression (OR: 6.34 [3.58-11.24]). Conclusions: The number of young people seen in psychiatric emergencies during the chronic stage of the pandemic increased, and these were getting younger and without previous psychiatric contact. The trend to higher rates of suicidal ideation indicates that youth experienced elevated distress during these periods, especially women, living with relatives and presenting depression.

Introducción: El brote de COVID-19 y el confinamiento pueden tener un impacto en la salud mental entre los jóvenes, pero los estudios de visitas al servicio de urgencias de psiquiatría en la población joven española son escasos. El objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar los motivos de atención de urgencia psiquiátrica de los jóvenes durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en nuestro hospital. Material y métodos: Este estudio transversal compara las visitas a urgencias de psiquiatría y sus características en pacientes jóvenes de la provincia de Lleida antes y después de la pandemia, con especial atención a los 2 estados de alarma y la conducta suicida. La información sobre el estatus sociodemográfico, las principales quejas, el diagnóstico, las características de la conducta suicida y otros datos se obtuvieron de la historia clínica electrónica. Resultados: Dentro del total de atenciones de urgencias psiquiátricas, los pacientes jóvenes aumentaron un 83,5% en el segundo estado de alarma (p = 0,001). En este período los pacientes eran más jóvenes (p = 0,006), tenían menos antecedentes psiquiátricos (p = 0,017) y sus condiciones de vida cambiaron, con un aumento de los que vivían con familiares (p = 0,004). La atención a la ideación suicida aumentó sin significación estadística (p = 0,073). La regresión logística múltiple identifica factores de riesgo independientes para la conducta suicida: ser mujer (OR: 2,88 [1,39-5,98]), vivir con familiares (OR: 3,49 [1,43-8,54]) y tener un diagnóstico de depresión (OR: 6,34 [3,58-11,24]). Conclusiones: Aumentó el número de jóvenes atendidos en urgencias psiquiátricas durante la etapa crónica de la pandemia, y estos cada vez eran más jóvenes y sin contacto psiquiátrico previo. La tendencia a tasas más altas de ideación suicida indica que los jóvenes experimentaron una angustia elevada durante estos períodos, especialmente las mujeres, que vivían con familiares y presentaban depresión.

Lithium management of periodic mood fluctuations in behavioural frontotemporal dementia: a case report.

The behavioural variant of Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by behavioural and cognitive symptoms. Mood disturbances, including manic-like episodes, can occur in bvFTD, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This case report presents a 62-year-old male with bvFTD exhibiting weekly mood fluctuations alternating between manic and depressive-like states. While initial treatment with quetiapine and trazodone showed partial improvement, the periodicity of mood fluctuations persisted. Subsequently, lithium was introduced, resulting in a notable reduction in symptom severity for both manic and depressive episodes. This report highlights the potential use of lithium as a mood stabilizer in bvFTD patients with periodic mood fluctuations, refractory to standard treatments. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying lithium's efficacy in bvFTD and to establish treatment guidelines.

PSYCHOTIC DEPRESSION IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS DURING THE COVID-19 HEALTHCARE CRISIS: A CASE SERIES.

After the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, new waves have occurred that have chronicled the epidemiological situation. This could especially affect the Mental Health of healthcare professionals with the appearance of serious conditions such as psychotic depression. The objective of this article is to describe a series of cases of psychotic depression in health professionals during the chronic phase of the sanitary crisis.

High neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio upon admission is associated with better response in psychotic depression.

Recent evidence relates the inflammatory system to the aetiology and evolution of mood disorders. The Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is an affordable and reproducible biomarker of inflammation. The aim of the study is to retrospectively evaluate the association between NLR and response to treatment in 50 patients aged over 50 with a diagnosis of Psychotic Depression (PD) who were admitted to an acute psychiatric unit between 2010 and 2018. They were stratified according to sex and treatment received: antidepressants, antipsychotics and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The NLR was collected on admission and the clinical response was quantified by the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. In the simple linear regression, high NLR upon admission was associated with better clinical response during hospitalization as measured by GAF. When stratifying the patients, this association was maintained in women, in patients who received antidepressant treatment with tricyclics and SNRIs, antipsychotic treatment with olanzapine/quetiapine and those who did not receive ECT. NLR is an accessible biomarker in clinical practice, and in PD patients it could guide the therapeutic strategy and be a predictor of response.