Psychiatry in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 or Coronavirus pandemic has generated a very serious and grave global concern regarding the health of every person in the whole world. Besides, due to the rapid diffusion of the viral infection, there are already alarms on how to deal with the psychiatric aspects of COVID-19 pandemic in persons with an established diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, staff, and those in self-isolation. What is the influence of COVID-19 on mental health? The current study will review the psychiatric implications of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population, the bearing of social isolation, the prevention behaviours, and clinical cases of people who required psychiatric admission to hospital due to the emotional impact of COVID-19 social circumstances.

Case reports of first psychiatric presentations during CoViD-19 pandemic

CoViD-19 pandemic has created a global concern in the whole population. The psychiatric and social impact of the viral infection is recorded differently by the community. However, more vulnerable individuals with negative psychiatric history are presenting to mental health hospitals for admission, assessment and treatment due to abnormal reactions to CoViD-19 pandemic. The current study reports six clinical cases of first psychiatric presentation that were characterised by sudden onset of symptoms, manic and psychotic symptoms, adverse response to stress, psychomotor agitation and behaviours out of character. The presentation was short-lived and responded to typical antipsychotics and antidepressants. The posed diagnoses were acute and transient psychotic disorder and acute stress reaction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (Italian) La pandemia legata alla CoViD-19 ha provocato preoccupazione generale nell'intera popolazione. L'impatto sociale e psichiatrico dell'infezione virale varia da persona a persona. Tuttavia, a causa di reazioni mentali patologiche alla pandemia da CoViD-19, individui piu vulnerabili, con un'anamnesi psichiatrica negativa per precedenti patologie mentali, iniziano a essere presi in carico dai servizi psichiatrici. La nostra ricerca riporta sei casi clinici al loro esordio psichiatrico, caratterizzati dall'insorgenza acuta di una sintomatologia con sintomi maniacali e psicotici, con alterata reazione allo stress, agitazione psicomotoria e comportamento patologico. Per tutti, il decorso clinico e stato breve e caratterizzato da buona risposta ai comuni antipsicotici e antidepressivi. Le diagnosi poste sono state di disturbo psicotico acuto e transitorio e di reazione acuta allo stress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19, loneliness, social isolation and risk of dementia in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relevant literature.

OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19 lockdown, social isolation and feelings of loneliness (SIFL) in the older population have increased, and they can be a risk of dementia, especially in vulnerable older people. The current research is a systematic review meta-analysis of the studies that approach the risk of dementia in older people with SIFL. METHODS: The ten studies selected for meta-analysis utilised an opportunistic sample of older people in the community from age 50 to above with no dementia and enrolment. The populations consisted of cohorts of an average of 8,239 people, followed for a mean period of 6.41 years. Random effect meta-analysis summarised the Cox Proportional Hazard Ratios and Relative Risks of the individual studies. RESULTS: Results of the meta-analysis show that in older people, the risk of developing dementia because of the impact of prolonged loneliness and social isolation is about 49 to 60% [HR/HR = 1.49; CI95=1.37-1.61] higher than in those who are not lonely and socially isolated. CONCLUSION: The biopsychosocial model of dementia supports the need for more integrated social programs and reduced risks for the older persons who, during the COVID-19 lockdown, have suffered from deprivation of support from primary carers and restricted social interactions.KeypointsDuring the COVID-19 lockdown, social isolation and feelings of loneliness in the general population have increased.Older persons are more vulnerable to social isolation and feelings of loneliness (SIFL).SIFL in older people has been associated with an increased risk of dementia.The current study's findings suggest the need to improve healthcare policies to reduce the impact of SIFL in older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychiatric training during covid-19 pandemic benefits from integrated practice in interprofessional teams and ecological momentary e-assessment.

OBJECTIVES: During the current covid-19 pandemic, healthcare students had to stop their face-to-face attendance at medical colleges and universities. This condition has resulted in a change in how learning and assessment of psychiatric and interprofessional practice occur. The pandemic has also increased clinical mentors' need to follow their mentees' educational progress via virtual technology, including smartphone-based educational apps. The aim of the study is to propose a model in psychiatric and medical interprofessional practice e-assessment. METHODS: In this study, 228 undergraduate healthcare students underwent a training period in interprofessional practice across specialties being assessed by Ecological Momentary e-Assessment (EMeA), and consisting of ongoing or before/after Interprofessional Education (IPE) learning evaluations with the assistance of an IPE-app linked to online surveys. The Goodness of Fit Test Chi-square and t-test statistics analyzed the data. RESULTS: Surveys during, at entry and exit points in IPE captured increased percentages of learners, specifically, reporting high patient satisfaction with interprofessional teams (c2=22.54; p<.01), learners experiencing very good quality of care when delivered by interprofessional teams (c2=30.02; p<.01) assessed by distance technology, and learners selecting less frequently peers from the same clinical background when support was needed in patient care (c2=19.84; p<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Contextual assessment (in the real-time and real-world scenario) of IPE learning moments via EMeA shows its value and applicability during the current covid-19 pandemic when the assessment of learning cannot occur face-to-face between learners and teachers. All healthcare students, including those on psychiatric rotations, could log in their progress, self-reflective assessments, and responses to coordinated care in interprofessional teams, without needing direct contact with their clinical tutors, and while treating patients with mental and physical illnesses, also including covid-19 positive patients.

Case reports of first psychiatric presentations during CoViD-19 pandemic.

CoViD-19 pandemic has created a global concern in the whole population. The psychiatric and social impact of the viral infection is recorded differently by the community. However, more vulnerable individuals with negative psychiatric history are presenting to mental health hospitals for admission, assessment and treatment due to abnormal reactions to CoViD-19 pandemic. The current study reports six clinical cases of first psychiatric presentation that were characterised by sudden onset of symptoms, manic and psychotic symptoms, adverse response to stress, psychomotor agitation and behaviours out of character. The presentation was short-lived and responded to typical antipsychotics and antidepressants. The posed diagnoses were acute and transient psychotic disorder and acute stress reaction.