Healio (5/4, Gramigna) reports, “The early portion of the COVID-19 pandemic led to ‘dramatic changes’ in psychiatric care, which were primarily linked to the rapid transition to telehealth care,” investigators concluded after analyzing “electronic health records data included in a large, community-based health care system between March 9 to May 31 in 2019 (n = 94,720) and for the same timeframe in 2020.” The findings were published online March 3 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
“ Compared to 2019, psychiatric visits increased significantly (P < .0001) in 2020, with the majority being telephone/video-based (+264%). Psychiatric care volume increased overall (7%), with the greatest increases in addiction (+42%), behavioral health in primary care (+17%), and adult psychiatry (+5%) clinics. While patients seeking care with preexisting psychiatric diagnoses were mainly stable (−2%), new patients declined (−42%). Visits for substance use (+51%), adjustment (+15%), anxiety (+12%), bipolar (+9%), and psychotic (+6%) disorder diagnoses, and for patients aged 18–25 years (+4%) and 26–39 years (+4%), increased. Child/adolescent and older adult patient visits decreased (−22.7% and −5.5%, respectively), and fewer patients identifying as White (−3.8%) or male (−5.0) or with depression (−3%) or disorders of childhood (−2%) sought care.”
Related Links:
— “Early phase of COVID-19 pandemic led to ‘dramatic changes’ in psychiatric care “Joe Gramigna, Healio, May 4, 2021