TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 restrictions and visitations to an Israeli psychiatric emergency department
T2 - A four-lockdowns retrospective study
AU - Yaniv-Rosenfeld, Amit
AU - Rosenfeld, Ariel
AU - Hirsch Klein, Efrat
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - We examine the volume and characteristics of psychiatric ED visitations through a perspective of four COVID-19 lockdowns. All adult visitations to the ED of Shalvata Mental Healthcare center (Israel) during 2020–2021 were retrieved and statistically analysed and data from 2017 to 2019 was considered as control. Voluntary and involuntary ED visitations were considered, separately and combined. We find that the significant decrease in the volume of voluntary ED visitations during the 1st lockdown was quickly overturned, roughly returning to the pre-pandemic state following its conclusion. In parallel, the volume of involuntary ED visitations has dramatically increased, with the most striking levels observed during the second and third lockdowns. Elapsed time since the first occurrence of COVID-19 in Israel and the level of governmental restrictions is significantly associated with the increase in the volume of ED visits and admissions, the admission rate and the rate of involuntary visits. The prolonged consequences associated with the pandemic and the measures taken to control it suggest that it is unreasonable to expect a return to normal ED utilization in the near future. As such, alternatives to strict lockdowns should be favored when possible and urgent strengthening of psychiatric care is warranted.
AB - We examine the volume and characteristics of psychiatric ED visitations through a perspective of four COVID-19 lockdowns. All adult visitations to the ED of Shalvata Mental Healthcare center (Israel) during 2020–2021 were retrieved and statistically analysed and data from 2017 to 2019 was considered as control. Voluntary and involuntary ED visitations were considered, separately and combined. We find that the significant decrease in the volume of voluntary ED visitations during the 1st lockdown was quickly overturned, roughly returning to the pre-pandemic state following its conclusion. In parallel, the volume of involuntary ED visitations has dramatically increased, with the most striking levels observed during the second and third lockdowns. Elapsed time since the first occurrence of COVID-19 in Israel and the level of governmental restrictions is significantly associated with the increase in the volume of ED visits and admissions, the admission rate and the rate of involuntary visits. The prolonged consequences associated with the pandemic and the measures taken to control it suggest that it is unreasonable to expect a return to normal ED utilization in the near future. As such, alternatives to strict lockdowns should be favored when possible and urgent strengthening of psychiatric care is warranted.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Governmental restrictions
KW - Involuntary hospitalization
KW - Psychiatric emergency department
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144074973&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.115004
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.115004
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C2 - 36525902
AN - SCOPUS:85144074973
SN - 0165-1781
VL - 319
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
M1 - 115004
ER -