[Telephone information service for psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experience with a direct phone line in the Nyíro Gyula National Institute of Psychiatry and Addictions in Hungary]. / Beteginformációs telefonvonal a COVID-19-járvány idején: a Nyíro Gyula-OPAI-ban muködtetett közvetlen vonallal szerzett tapasztalataink.

The COVID-19 epidemic has had an extraordinary impact on mental health. In addition to the direct effect of the virus, we must take into account increasing disease anxiety due to the risk of infection, insecurity, confusing media activity, social isolation due to quarantine, socioeconomic impact, and the reduced capacity of the health-care system. In this paper, we present our experiences with the patient information telephone service operated by the psychotherapy department of the Nyíro Gyula National Institute of Psychiatry and Addiction (Nyíro-OPAI). Clinical psychologists and psychotherapists received the calls. The vast majority of the 264 phone calls registered during the two months of the pandemic (62%) were initiated by treated patients (availability of a doctor, questions related to the operation of the health-care system, prescribing medications). Still, we could also help patients and their families in potentially dangerous situations (21%): suicidal intentions, alcohol- and drug-related crises, severe neurocognitive disorders (dementias) with acute behavioural and psychological symptoms. In all cases, the telephone consultation led to the successful resolution of the crisis (low-threshold psychological intervention, counselling, assistance in admission to the institution). A relatively small number of calls (7%) were related to more complex psychotherapeutic needs. In summary, our experience shows that in extreme social situations, direct telephone assistance is suitable for supporting registered patients in the mental health system. This type of service also provides an opportunity to address acute crises and cases requiring more complex psychotherapeutic interventions.

[From life events to symptoms of anxiety and depression: the role of dysfunctional attitudes and coping]. / Az életeseményektol a depressziós és szorongásos panaszokig: a diszfunkcionális attitudök és a megküzdés szerepe a patogenezis folyamatában.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the present study was a systematic path-analytical investigation between the effects of life events, dysfunctional attitudes and coping strategies in relation with the exhibited depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with mental disorders. METHODS: Self-report data of 234 patients from our outpatient psychotherapy unit were analyzed. Life events, dysfunctional attitudes, coping strategies as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed by self-administerd questionnaires. Statistical methods included structural equation modelling, which enables the estimation of the magnitude and strength of individual variables within an overarching casual model, thus yielding a complex view on the possible processes underlying the development of the clinical symptoms of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that both the number of negative life events and their subjectively experienced intensity contributed to the increase of dysfunctional attitudes. The presence of dysfunctional attitudes decreased the use of problem-focused coping strategies and increased the use of emotion-focused coping strategies. The use of problem-focused coping decreased symptom occurrence and emotion-focused coping strategies increased the frequency of symptoms of anxiety and depression. Our findings suggest that dysfunctional need for achievement and perfectionism directly increase the probability of depressive symptom manifestation. The attitude of external locus of control showed a significant relationship with anxiety symptoms through emotion-focused coping strategies and directly as well. CONCLUSION: Restructuring dysfunctional attitudes and developing problem-focused coping strategies are an important part of psychotherapeutic interventions aiming to decrease anxiety and depressive symptoms.