Psychiatric hospitalizations among adolescents during the pandemic in Italy: a retrospective study

Rosaria Di Lorenzo; Anna Cutino; Martina Morgante; Giulia Panini; Sergio Rovesti; Tommaso Filippini; Paola Ferri

doi:10.1515/ijamh-2024-0088

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Psychiatric hospitalizations among adolescents during the pandemic in Italy: a retrospective study

Rosaria Di Lorenzo , Anna Cutino , Martina Morgante , Giulia Panini , Sergio Rovesti , Tommaso Filippini und Paola Ferri

Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 21. Oktober 2024

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Aus der Zeitschrift International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health Band 36 Heft 6

Abstract

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted child and adolescent mental health. The study outcome was the evaluation of the pandemic impact on adolescents’ hospitalizations in an acute psychiatric ward.

Methods

With an observational and retrospective design, we collected selected variables among adolescents hospitalized in an acute psychiatric ward from 01/07/2017 to 30/06/2022. Data were statistically processed.

Results

Our sample consisted of 118 minors with an average age of 15.7 ± 1.2 SD, mostly represented by females (61 %) and Italians (60.2 %), who made 204 hospitalizations in the study period. The admissions by years drastically decreased in 2020 concomitantly with the lockdown and increased in the first half of 2022. The admission rate was higher in winter and spring, except in 2020 when all admissions decreased (p=0.000). Females more frequently were hospitalized for suicidal behavior and acute anxiety (p=0.000) and were discharged with acute stress reactions, eating disorders, and mood disorder diagnoses (p=0.000). Differently, males more frequently were hospitalized for aggressive behavior (p=0.000) and discharged with ADHD diagnosis (p=0.000). At multiple linear regression, the duration of hospitalization (dependent variable) was negatively associated with “the pandemic period” (p=0.017) and “absent aggressive behavior” (p=0.003), and positively with “autism” diagnosis (p=0.000).

Conclusions

We highlighted the more stressful impact of COVID-19 pandemic on female adolescents, who required more frequently psychiatric hospitalizations due to suicidal behavior, anxiety and mood disorders.

Keywords: adolescents’ psychiatric hospitalization; suicidal behavior; the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods

Corresponding author: Rosaria Di Lorenzo, Mental Health Department and Drug Abuse, AUSL-Modena, Modena, Italy, E-mail: saradilorenzo1@alice.it

Research ethics: The study was approved by the IRB “Local Ethics Committee” (protocol 26549-AOU of 05 October 2022) and, subsequently authorized, by the AUSL of Modena (protocol 495-22). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013).
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Author contributions: RDL, AC made substantial contributions to the design, analysis of data and drafts the work; MM, GP collected data; SR, TF, PF revised it critically for important intellectual content. All authors approved the version to be published and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors have no financial or proprietary interests in any material discussed in this article.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2024-06-15

Accepted: 2024-10-03

Published Online: 2024-10-21

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2024-0088

Schlagwörter für diesen Artikel

adolescents’ psychiatric hospitalization; suicidal behavior; the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods