Adaptation des soins et télémédecine en période de confinement et de pandémie de COVID-19 : retour d’expérience d’une Maison des Adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundThe COVID-19 sanitary crisis has imposed a major reorganization of the health care system in France. Lockdown could be a factor in the emergence or deterioration of psychological disorders; it can be even more fragilizing during the specific period of adolescence. The « Maisons des Adolescents » (Teenagers’ Houses) had to urgently adjust their practices to provide continuity of care for adolescents suffering from physical or mental disorders. The « Maisons des Adolescents » are pluridisciplinary care centres for adolescents and their families that provide assessments and services for medical, psychological, socio-educational, educational and legal needs. How did care continue for adolescents during lockdown? What adjustments occurred in the « Maisons des Adolescents » during the health crisis? MethodsThis article presents the case of an adolescent who suffered a significant deterioration of her anorexia nervosa during confinement. Through this case, we describe the reorganization of care within the different units (consultations - day hospital - hospitalization unit) of a Parisian « Maison des Adolescents » during the COVID-19 pandemic. FindingsIn this service, the rapid implementation of the telemedicine system in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic made possible provision of continuity in care for vulnerable adolescents and families. Based on the existing literature, we discuss the advantages and limitations of telemedicine and the practical issues for the future organization of care for adolescents. PerspectivesIn contrast to pediatric medicine or child psychiatry, there is no protocol describing the application of telemedicine in adolescent medicine and psychiatry. There is an urgent need for further evaluation of the use of telemedicine for this population. This kind of research will improve knowledge about the effectiveness, acceptability and limitations of using a teleconsultation device in adolescent psychiatry in a crisis context. Certain remote care modalities implemented during the sanitary crisis could thus be maintained over time and become routine in the field of adolescent medicine and psychiatry.