The experience of northern italy in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection and mental disorders
Introduction In December 2019, the first cases of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak related to acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. European countries experienced a tragic growth in the number of Covid-19 cases alth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-04-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821006982/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797616330617126912 |
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| author | G. Serafini E. Bondi C. Locatelli M. Amore |
| author_facet | G. Serafini E. Bondi C. Locatelli M. Amore |
| author_sort | G. Serafini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
In December 2019, the first cases of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak related to acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. European countries experienced a tragic growth in the number of Covid-19 cases although several restrictions have been imposed.
Objectives
The study is aimed to describe the first experience of the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII in the city of Bergamo, Northern Italy.
Methods
The most relevant clinical characteristics of aged patients with COVID-19 and mental disorders have been described.
Results
According to the experience of the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, medical departments, after appropriate training of all healthcare workers, have been rapidly converted into specific units aimed at treating patients with COVID-19 infection. Specifically, we directly observed a rapidly growing request of psychiatric interventions in aged patients with COVID-19 infection due to the emergence of severe delirium (mainly hyperkinetic) which was reported in approximately 30−50% of cases increasing with age, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. When compared with younger subjects, we found that subjects aged 65 or above with prolonged hospitalization in our hospital are more vulnerable to: 1) environmental factors (e.g., social isolation and distance from family members, stay in intensive/subintensive units, communication difficulties due to therapeutic devices); 2) individual factors (e.g., COVID-19 possible neurotropic properties, impairments in insight and cognitive dysfunctions, comorbid medical conditions, and use of multiple medications).
Conclusions
The main implications of the present findings have been discussed.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:39:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-def2a58bf5114f41b8502791862d9db0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:39:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-def2a58bf5114f41b8502791862d9db02023-11-17T05:08:55ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S260S26010.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.698The experience of northern italy in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection and mental disordersG. Serafini0E. Bondi1C. Locatelli2M. Amore3Department Of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal And Child Health (dinogmi), University of Genoa, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy, Genoa, ItalyDepartment Of Psychiatry, Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy, Bergamo, ItalyDepartment Of Psychiatry, Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy, Bergamo, ItalyDepartment Of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal And Child Health (dinogmi), Departimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy Introduction In December 2019, the first cases of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak related to acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. European countries experienced a tragic growth in the number of Covid-19 cases although several restrictions have been imposed. Objectives The study is aimed to describe the first experience of the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII in the city of Bergamo, Northern Italy. Methods The most relevant clinical characteristics of aged patients with COVID-19 and mental disorders have been described. Results According to the experience of the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, medical departments, after appropriate training of all healthcare workers, have been rapidly converted into specific units aimed at treating patients with COVID-19 infection. Specifically, we directly observed a rapidly growing request of psychiatric interventions in aged patients with COVID-19 infection due to the emergence of severe delirium (mainly hyperkinetic) which was reported in approximately 30−50% of cases increasing with age, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. When compared with younger subjects, we found that subjects aged 65 or above with prolonged hospitalization in our hospital are more vulnerable to: 1) environmental factors (e.g., social isolation and distance from family members, stay in intensive/subintensive units, communication difficulties due to therapeutic devices); 2) individual factors (e.g., COVID-19 possible neurotropic properties, impairments in insight and cognitive dysfunctions, comorbid medical conditions, and use of multiple medications). Conclusions The main implications of the present findings have been discussed. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821006982/type/journal_articleCOVID-19 infectionmental healthdeliriumPsychological Distress |
| spellingShingle | G. Serafini E. Bondi C. Locatelli M. Amore The experience of northern italy in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection and mental disorders European Psychiatry COVID-19 infection mental health delirium Psychological Distress |
| title | The experience of northern italy in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection and mental disorders |
| title_full | The experience of northern italy in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection and mental disorders |
| title_fullStr | The experience of northern italy in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection and mental disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | The experience of northern italy in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection and mental disorders |
| title_short | The experience of northern italy in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection and mental disorders |
| title_sort | experience of northern italy in elderly patients with covid 19 infection and mental disorders |
| topic | COVID-19 infection mental health delirium Psychological Distress |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821006982/type/journal_article |
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