AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightPatients with depression particularly experienced exacerbation, and the number of delirium consultations in the emergency room increased significantly.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Özet
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the change in sociodemographic characteristics and the diagnostic distribution of patients who presented at a psychiatric clinic in Turkey or were the subject of a consultation request during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period. Methods: The research included patients who presented at the Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Research and Practice Hospital Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic as well as consultation cases requested by the clinic during 3 periods that reflected conditions prior to and after the declaration of a pandemic: March 12-June 9, 2020, December 13, 2019-March 11, 2020, and March 12-June 9, 2019. An independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance or chi-squared test was used to provide statistically descriptive analyses and intergroup comparisons. Results: A total of 5139 cases, 4634 outpatient presentations and 505 consultations, were included in the study. The number of outpatient clinic presentations decreased significantly during the pandemic. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were anxiety disorders (35.8%) and depression disorders (30.2%). The proportional change in depression and sleep disorders was statistically significant during the pandemic; anxiety (n=94, 40.9%) and depression (n=89, 38.7%) complaints increased the most. Inpatient (n=95, 22.9%) and emergency room consultations (n=12, 13.3%) were lower during the pandemic period measured. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic distribution of inpatient consultations during the pandemic period; however, there was a significant increase in the number of requests for consultation from the emergency room for delirium cases. Conclusion: The number of outpatient clinic presentations and consultation requests decreased during the pandemic period. Patients with depression particularly experienced exacerbation, and the number of delirium consultations in the emergency room increased significantly.