Location
Philadelphia, PA
Start Date
1-5-2024 1:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2024 4:00 PM
Description
Introduction: How we understand mental health and its treatment has evolved over the past century. From the 19th century to the present day, different eras have reflected how mental illness is defined, how it is treated, who is treated, and the emergence and evolution among mental health treatment facilities and standards of care. This progression over time has reflected ongoing changes to different considerations of the etiology of mental illness. Each era has also reflected changes in the environmental and socio-geopolitical climate, resulting in the emergence of representative clinical phenomena (e.g., PTSD) and demographic factors (e.g., immigration trends) that have influenced changes in epidemiological data related to mental illness and its treatment. At present, there is an abundance of research that has identified factors that contribute to psychological distress in the general population. The recent COVID-19 pandemic across the world reflects this phenomenon. Extensive research has begun to emerge, focusing on the general population's psychological distress from the pandemic. Less attention has focused on how the pandemic impacted the severely mentally ill population. The pandemic and lockdown restrictions may have changed demographic patterns, clinical symptoms, and rates of inpatient psychiatric admission. There is a growing interest in examining the depth and breadth of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental illness and treatment.
Objectives: The purpose of the study is to determine the potential impact of the pandemic on patterns of demographic and psychiatric symptoms one year before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency, during the pandemic, and one year following the formal ending of the pandemic, for the severely mentally ill population admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility.
Methods: This quantitative retrospective observational study will use archival data and review subject medical records regarding demographics, psychiatric symptoms, and admission rates. A linear regression model will be used to study the variables across time to determine a linear connection between the dependent and independent variables.
Results: It is hypothesized that there will be a difference in subject demographics and psychiatric symptoms one year before the pandemic was declared a national emergency, during the pandemic, and one year following the formal ending of the pandemic. Additionally, it is hypothesized that there will be a decrease in admission rates following the national emergency being declared for the pandemic and remain at a lower admission rate compared to admission rates one year before the pandemic was declared a national emergency. After the end of the national emergency, admission rates will increase compared to admission rates one year before the pandemic was declared a national emergency.
Conclusion: Findings from this study will help to further understand the psychological impact of a worldwide health pandemic, populations that may be most vulnerable, and individuals that would benefit from access to and engagement with mental health resources during times of crisis.
Embargo Period
7-3-2024
Included in
The COVID-19 Pandemic: Predictors of Inpatient Admission for the Severely Mentally Ill
Philadelphia, PA
Introduction: How we understand mental health and its treatment has evolved over the past century. From the 19th century to the present day, different eras have reflected how mental illness is defined, how it is treated, who is treated, and the emergence and evolution among mental health treatment facilities and standards of care. This progression over time has reflected ongoing changes to different considerations of the etiology of mental illness. Each era has also reflected changes in the environmental and socio-geopolitical climate, resulting in the emergence of representative clinical phenomena (e.g., PTSD) and demographic factors (e.g., immigration trends) that have influenced changes in epidemiological data related to mental illness and its treatment. At present, there is an abundance of research that has identified factors that contribute to psychological distress in the general population. The recent COVID-19 pandemic across the world reflects this phenomenon. Extensive research has begun to emerge, focusing on the general population's psychological distress from the pandemic. Less attention has focused on how the pandemic impacted the severely mentally ill population. The pandemic and lockdown restrictions may have changed demographic patterns, clinical symptoms, and rates of inpatient psychiatric admission. There is a growing interest in examining the depth and breadth of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental illness and treatment.
Objectives: The purpose of the study is to determine the potential impact of the pandemic on patterns of demographic and psychiatric symptoms one year before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency, during the pandemic, and one year following the formal ending of the pandemic, for the severely mentally ill population admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility.
Methods: This quantitative retrospective observational study will use archival data and review subject medical records regarding demographics, psychiatric symptoms, and admission rates. A linear regression model will be used to study the variables across time to determine a linear connection between the dependent and independent variables.
Results: It is hypothesized that there will be a difference in subject demographics and psychiatric symptoms one year before the pandemic was declared a national emergency, during the pandemic, and one year following the formal ending of the pandemic. Additionally, it is hypothesized that there will be a decrease in admission rates following the national emergency being declared for the pandemic and remain at a lower admission rate compared to admission rates one year before the pandemic was declared a national emergency. After the end of the national emergency, admission rates will increase compared to admission rates one year before the pandemic was declared a national emergency.
Conclusion: Findings from this study will help to further understand the psychological impact of a worldwide health pandemic, populations that may be most vulnerable, and individuals that would benefit from access to and engagement with mental health resources during times of crisis.