Lockdown during the early phase of Covid-19 – effects on specialized mental health services and vocational activities for patients with psychotic disorders

Abstract

Purpose

People with psychotic disorders may be particularly vulnerable to adverse effects from restrictions implemented to limit the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health professionals may also be at risk of adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of potential changes in accessibility, quality of care and vocational activity on people with psychotic disorders and the impact on clinicians working in these conditions.

Materials and methods

Patients and clinicians in specialized mental health services for psychotic disorders answered questionnaires regarding changes in treatment, quality of treatment, vocational activity, and well-being. Data was analyzed with nonparametric tests.

Results

Inpatients appeared more influenced by the restrictions than outpatients, however, quality of treatment was regarded relatively unaffected. Clinicians seemed satisfied working under these conditions, though a larger portion of clinicians reported changes in treatment compared to patients. The patients who reported being affected by changes in vocational activity tended to report negative effects, but the majority reported being unaffected.

Conclusion

Overall, patients and clinicians appeared to cope well with the changes they experienced in accessibility, quality of care and vocational activity during the early phases of the pandemic.

Keywords:

• Psychosis
• treatment quality
• clinician satisfaction
• accessibility of treatment

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the study participants for their time and effort devoted to participation in the COPSYC-19 study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by clinic internal resources.