TY  - JOUR
A1  - Aichholzer, Mareike
A1  - Schiweck, Carmen
A1  - Uckermark, Carmen
A1  - Hamzehloiya, Tirage
A1  - Reif-Leonhard, Christine
A1  - Golbach, Rejane
A1  - Reif, Andreas
A1  - Edwin Thanarajah, Sharmili
T1  - Impact of COVID-19 on the treatment of depressive patients in Germany - a gap in care for the mentally ill?
T2  - Frontiers in psychiatry
N2  - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a higher incidence of depression and a worsening of psychiatric conditions, while pre-existing constraints of the healthcare system and safety regulations limited psychiatric care.
Aims: We investigated the impact of the pandemic on the clinical care of patients with a single episode (SE-MDD) or major depressive disorder (MDD) in Germany.
Methods: Nationwide inpatient data were extracted from the German Institute for Hospital Remuneration System for 2020 and 2021 (depression data) and the Robert Koch Institute (COVID-19 incidence). Changes in inpatients were tested with linear regression models. Local cases of depression in our department compared to 2019 were explored with one-way ANOVA and Dunnett's test.
Results: Across Germany, the inpatient numbers with both SE-MDD and MDD declined by more than 50% during three out of four COVID-19 waves. Higher COVID-19 incidence correlated with decreased inpatient numbers. In our department, fewer MDD inpatients were treated in 2020 (adj. p < 0.001) and 2021 (adj. p < 0.001) compared to 2019, while the number of SE-MDD inpatients remained stable. During this period fewer elective and more emergency inpatients were admitted. In parallel, MDD outpatient admissions increased in 2021 compared to 2019 (adj. p = 0.002) and 2020 (adj. p = 0.003).
Conclusion: During high COVID-19 infection rates, MDD patients received less inpatient care, which might cause poor outcomes in the near future. These data highlight the necessity for improved infrastructure in the in- and outpatient domains to facilitate accessibility to adequate care.
Y1  - 2023
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/83572
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-835727
SN  - 1664-0640
VL  - 14
IS  - 1198632
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  -