Evolving Psychiatric Needs of Children and Adolescents in A Global Health Crisis: A Study of Consultations During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Evidence is increasing that the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing measures implemented during this time have significantly affected the mental health of children and adolescents. This study aims to compare the sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatric consultation cases referred to child and adolescent mental health services during and after the pandemic, and to assess the impact of the pandemic on mental health and service utilization in this population. In this study, the demographic and clinical characteristics of psychiatric consultations for patients under the age of 18 referred to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic of Samsun Training and Research Hospital were examined through a retrospective file review. The data were analyzed by dividing them into three distinct time periods: the pandemic period (January 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021), the normalization period (July 1, 2021 – May 5, 2023), and the post-pandemic period (May 5, 2023 – December 31, 2023). In the post-pandemic period, a notable increase was observed in psychiatric consultations for children and adolescents. The average monthly number of consultations, which was 4.5 during the pandemic period, rose to 6.95 during the normalization period and to 22.13 in the post-pandemic period. Across the pandemic, normalization, and post-pandemic periods, the most common reason for child and adolescent psychiatric consultations was suicide attempt. Moreover, an upward trend in the average monthly number of suicide attempt-related consultations was observed during the normalization and post-pandemic periods. This study highlights the changes in child and adolescent mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing notable differences in the number of psychiatric consultation referrals and diagnostic profiles. The findings indicate an increased demand for mental health services among children and adolescents in the post-pandemic period, with a marked rise in anxiety disorders and suicide attempts. These results suggest that the pandemic has had not only short-term but also long-lasting effects on child and adolescent mental health, underscoring the importance of continuity, accessibility and early intervention strategies in mental health services during similar societal crises.

Keywords

• COVID-19 pandemic
• psychiatric consultations
• post-pandemic period
• child and adolescent mental health

Küresel Bir Sağlık Krizi Sürecinde Çocuk ve Ergenlerin Değişen Psikiyatrik Gereksinimleri: COVID-19 Pandemisi Sırasında ve Sonrasında Yapılan Konsültasyonların İncelenmesi

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemisi ve bu süreçte uygulanan sosyal mesafe önlemlerinin, çocuk ve ergenlerin ruh sağlığı üzerinde önemli etkiler yarattığına dair kanıtlar giderek artmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı; pandemi süreci ve sonrasındaki dönem boyunca çocuk ve ergen ruh sağlığı hizmetlerine yönlendirilen psikiyatrik konsültasyon vakalarının sosyodemografik özelliklerini karşılaştırmalı olarak analiz etmek ve pandemi sürecinin çocuk ve ergen ruh sağlığı ile sağlık hizmeti kullanımına yansıyan etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Bu çalışmada, Samsun Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Çocuk ve Ergen Psikiyatrisi Kliniği’ne 18 yaş altı hastalar için yönlendirilen psikiyatrik konsültasyonlara ait demografik ve klinik özellikler, geriye dönük dosya taraması yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Veriler; pandemi dönemi (1 Ocak 2020–1 Temmuz 2021), normalleşme dönemi (1 Temmuz 2021–5 Mayıs 2023) ve pandemi sonrası dönem (5 Mayıs 2023–31 Aralık 2023) olmak üzere üç farklı zaman aralığına ayrılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Pandemi sonrası dönemde çocuk ve ergenlere yönelik psikiyatri konsültasyonlarında belirgin bir artış gözlemlenmiştir. Pandemi döneminde aylık ortalama 4.5 olan konsültasyon sayısı, normalleşme döneminde 6.95’e, pandemi sonrası dönemde ise 22.13’e yükselmiştir. Pandemi, normalleşme ve pandemi sonrası dönemlerde çocuk ve ergen psikiyatrisi konsültasyonlarının en yaygın başvuru nedeni intihar girişimi olarak belirlenmiştir. Bununla birlikte, normalleşme ve pandemi sonrası dönemlerde aylık ortalama intihar girişimi başvurularında artış eğilimi gözlenmiştir. Bu çalışma, COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde ve sonrasındaki dönemde çocuk ve ergen ruh sağlığı alanında yaşanan değişimleri ortaya koyarak, psikiyatrik konsültasyonlara yönelik başvuru sayılarında ve tanı profillerinde dikkat çekici farklılıklar olduğunu göstermiştir. Bulgular, pandemi sonrası dönemde çocuk ve ergenlerde ruh sağlığı hizmetlerine yönelimin arttığını ve özellikle anksiyete bozuklukları ile intihar girişimlerinde belirgin bir artış yaşandığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bu sonuçlar, pandeminin çocuk ve ergen ruh sağlığı üzerinde yalnızca kısa vadeli değil, uzun süreli etkiler bıraktığını göstermekte ve benzer toplumsal krizlerde sağlık hizmetlerinin sürekliliği, erişilebilirliği ve erken müdahale stratejilerinin önemi konusunda yol gösterici olmaktadır.

Keywords

• COVID-19 pandemisi
• psikiyatrik konsültasyonlar
• pandemi sonrası dönem

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