Adverse Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown in Individuals With Tourette Syndrome in Italy: An Online Survey.

Giulia Conte,Francesca Valente,Francesco Cardona,Flavia Chiarotti,Valentina Baglioni

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.583744

Giulia Conte, Francesca Valente + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.583744

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Abstract

During the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Italy, an online survey was launched via a local patient advocacy website to investigate mental health issues in children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome (TS). Respondents were parents, who were asked to report on their child's general health, tics, comorbidities/problems, pharmacological treatment/psychotherapy, symptom variations, and daily routine, as well as on their family's health and work experiences during the pandemic. Two hundred thirty-eight people participated in the survey, 203 females and 35 males. Our findings indicate that, in the time window of 4–6 weeks after the beginning of the COVID-19-related lockdown, 67% of individuals with TS developed a relevant worsening of the overall clinical condition as rated by their parents. An improvement or no variation of the clinical picture was reported in 20.5 and 6.7% of cases, respectively. Most worsened symptoms included tics, hyperactivity, rage attacks, obsessions/compulsions, and anxiety. Of the subjects experiencing a clinical worsening, the majority (51.76%) showed variations across two to five symptom domains. No association was found between symptom variation and family demographics or health and economic issues specifically related to the lockdown. The current COVID-19 pandemic is exerting a considerable impact on the mental health of young individuals with TS by worsening both tics and emotional and behavioral symptoms.

Highlights

At the end of February 2020, the epicenter of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic shifted from China to Europe, with Italy being the first country to witness a massive peak in infections and fatalities [1, 2]
Based on parent reports among a national sample, the present study highlights the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of individuals with Tourette syndrome (TS)
Limited by its cross-sectional design, our study points out an important worsening of the overall clinical condition in the time window of 4–6 weeks after the beginning of the lockdown

Summary

Introduction

At the end of February 2020, the epicenter of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic shifted from China to Europe, with Italy being the first country to witness a massive peak in infections and fatalities [1, 2]. In the past few months, the Italian government has put forward unprecedented measures to contain the outbreak, placing residents in a nationwide lockdown, and banning any movement inside the country. Such measures were ongoing until 4 May [3]. Common measures implemented by governments to restrain the outbreak, such as social distancing, isolation, and contact tracing policies, may further disrupt the collective. Previous research dealing with the mental health impact of pandemics has mainly focused on subjects put into isolation or quarantine, demonstrating psychiatric complications, such as anxiety and depression, in up to 40% of cases [5, 6]. In the few studies regarding pediatric populations in similar conditions, externalizing and disruptive behaviors have been frequently reported [7, 8]

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