Lourdes Aguilar1, Begoña Vicente-Hernández2, Diego Remón-Gallo3, Llanyra García-Ullán1, Isabel Valriberas-Herrero2, Ana Maciá-Casas2, Ana Pérez-Madruga2, Maria Ángeles Garzón2, Ana Álvarez-Navares2, Carlos Roncero4. 1. Psychiatry Service, University of Salamanca Health Care Complex, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Salamanca (Spain), Alfonso X El Sabio Street, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. 2. Psychiatry Service, University of Salamanca Health Care Complex, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. 3. Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Salamanca (Spain), Alfonso X El Sabio Street, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. 4. Psychiatry Service, University of Salamanca Health Care Complex, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Salamanca (Spain), Alfonso X El Sabio Street, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. Electronic address: croncero@saludcastillayleon.es.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare over ten weeks the number of relapses, hospital admissions, calls made, admissions to therapeutic communities, face-to-face visits, treatment adjustment, number of injectables administered, and number of emergencies attended due to emotional and behavioral alterations and/or substance use disorder, and to describe and quantify social emergencies in an outpatient drug clinic (ODC) in Salamanca (Spain) from March 16, 2020, to May 22, 2020. METHODS: This is an ecological study of the COVID pandemic over ten weeks. The study examines the set of alcohol or other drug-dependent or dual disorder patients in the population of Salamanca, Spain. The measurements were: professionals; calls made; percentage of successful calls; face-to-face visits; first visits made; reviews made; techniques; injectable treatments; other treatments; evolution; relapses. The ODC includes about 375 new patients each year and another 650 other patients annually. RESULTS: The study found the number of relapses to be greater in the last five weeks of the 10-week study period. Patients' psychopathological instability also increased, and face-to-face visits were necessary. The most frequent psychopathology that required face-to-face intervention was depressive disorder. The number of interventions with patients increased. In parallel, social workers' efforts were greater after the seventh week. There was a decrease in response to calls. Throughout this time, the ODC attended to patients who needed to be treated for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: Confinement due to the coronavirus pandemic generated maladaptive emotional responses and other behaviors, such as excessive alcohol consumption. The number of face-to-face consultations, admissions, and referrals to therapeutic communities increased. Patients under stress and in social isolation resorted more often to substance use. The ODC had to adopt a flexible approach to evaluate patients with more serious problems, by using face-to-face assessments.
OBJECTIVE: To compare over ten weeks the number of relapses, hospital admissions, calls made, admissions to therapeutic communities, face-to-face visits, treatment adjustment, number of injectables administered, and number of emergencies attended due to emotional and behavioral alterations and/or substance use disorder, and to describe and quantify social emergencies in an outpatient drug clinic (ODC) in Salamanca (Spain) from March 16, 2020, to May 22, 2020. METHODS: This is an ecological study of the COVID pandemic over ten weeks. The study examines the set of alcohol or other drug-dependent or dual disorder patients in the population of Salamanca, Spain. The measurements were: professionals; calls made; percentage of successful calls; face-to-face visits; first visits made; reviews made; techniques; injectable treatments; other treatments; evolution; relapses. The ODC includes about 375 new patients each year and another 650 other patients annually. RESULTS: The study found the number of relapses to be greater in the last five weeks of the 10-week study period. Patients' psychopathological instability also increased, and face-to-face visits were necessary. The most frequent psychopathology that required face-to-face intervention was depressive disorder. The number of interventions with patients increased. In parallel, social workers' efforts were greater after the seventh week. There was a decrease in response to calls. Throughout this time, the ODC attended to patients who needed to be treated for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: Confinement due to the coronavirus pandemic generated maladaptive emotional responses and other behaviors, such as excessive alcohol consumption. The number of face-to-face consultations, admissions, and referrals to therapeutic communities increased. Patients under stress and in social isolation resorted more often to substance use. The ODC had to adopt a flexible approach to evaluate patients with more serious problems, by using face-to-face assessments.
Authors: Julia Corey; James Lyons; Austin O'Carroll; Richie Stafford; Jo-Hanna Ivers Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-09 Impact factor: 3.390