Teletherapy and hospitalizations in patients with serious mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective multicenter study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Interventions with patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) had to adapt rapidly to the COVID-19 safety restrictive measures, leading to the widespread use of teletherapy as an alternative.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to compare the use of different intervention modalities with patients with SMI during the first wave of the pandemic and examine their association with emergency hospital visits and hospitalization rates six months later.

Methods

Records of 270 service users of fifteen outpatient mental health services across Spain, were retrospectively assessed. We retrieved clinical data and data on the modality of intervention received (in-person, over the phone, videoconferencing) in three time points (before, during and after the first COVID-

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Guarnido AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9015154 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature