Date of Submission

2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department Chair

Stephanie Flegoise, PhD., ABPP

First Advisor

David Rubenstein, Psy.D., M.S.W.

Second Advisor

Alexa Bonacquisti, PhD., PMH-C

Third Advisor

Patrick D. Boyle

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify differences in patterns of demographic and psychiatric symptoms among individuals with severe mental illnesses admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital 1 year before the quarantine shelter-in-place restriction order issued by a governor in the Northeastern United States, during the restriction order, and 1 year starting when all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. A second goal of the study was to determine whether psychiatric admission rates changed by comparing admission rates before and during the quarantine order, and 1 year after all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. This quantitative, retrospective, observational study was achieved by reviewing and collecting archived medical records data from a psychiatric facility. An ANOVA and a Pearson chi-square test were conducted, and the results showed no significant differences in demographic variables or admission rates across the 1-year periods before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant differences were shown in selected psychiatric variables. These findings indicate that the pandemic did not alter the demographic profile of admitted subjects or overall admission volume, but it was associated with increases in certain psychiatric symptoms. This suggests that vulnerable populations may benefit from early access to community mental health services during a pandemic.

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