Abstract
Reducing personal contacts is a central measure against the spreading of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This troubles mental health, but also mental health care as treatments usually take place in personal contact and switching to remote treatments might be necessary in times of COVID-19. The present study investigated the question how the provision of psychotherapy changed in the early weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria and whether there were differences between the four therapeutic orientations eligible in Austria (psychodynamic, humanistic, systemic, behavioral). Psychotherapists (N = 1547) completed an online survey. They entered their number of patients treated on average per week (in personal contact, via telephone, via Internet) in the early weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria as well as (retrospectively) in the months before. The number of patients treated on average per week in personal contact decreased (on average 81%; p < 0.001), whereas the number of patients treated on average per week via telephone and via Internet increased (on average 979% and 1561%; both p < 0.001). Yet, the decrease of psychotherapies through personal contact was not compensated for by increases of remote psychotherapies (p < 0.001). No differences between the four therapeutic orientations emerged. Results imply an undersupply of psychotherapy in the COVID-19 lockdown and that further changes are necessary to cover the increased need for timely psychotherapy in times of COVID-19.
Highlights
To fight the uncontrolled spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), measures to reduce personal contacts are essential and combined measures are more effective [1].In Austria, measures of the government against COVID-19 became obligatory on 16 March 2020(COVID-19 lockdown)
The number of patients treated on average per week in personal contact decreased from M = 13.45 (SD = 10.57) to M = 2.60 (SD = 4.75) (average decrease 81%, t(1546) = 38.80; p < 0.001), the number of patients treated on average per week via telephone increased from M = 0.42 (SD = 3.01) to M = 4.53 (SD = 5.77) (average increase 979%, t(1546) = −30.65; p < 0.001), and the number of patients treated on average per week via Internet increased from M = 0.18 (SD = 1.35) to M = 2.99 (SD = 4.44) (average increase 1561%, t(1546) = −26.42; p < 0.001)
The results of the RM-ANOVA examining interactions between changes (COVID−19 lockdown vs. months before COVID-19 lockdown) in the number of patients treated on average per week with therapeutic orientation on the one hand and treatment format on the other hand can been seen in were comparable between the therapeutic orientations (IE “change x orientation”: F(3;1527) = 1.21; p = 0.304)
Summary
To fight the uncontrolled spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), measures to reduce personal contacts (e.g., quarantine, isolation, social distancing) are essential and combined measures are more effective [1].In Austria, measures of the government against COVID-19 became obligatory on 16 March 2020(COVID-19 lockdown). To fight the uncontrolled spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), measures to reduce personal contacts (e.g., quarantine, isolation, social distancing) are essential and combined measures are more effective [1]. (4) Care and assistance for people in need of support. Certain areas in Austria were under quarantine at the time of the study with even more restrictions. Essential to prevent the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19, such measures pose a challenge for mental health and mental health care at the same time. Reviews showed that mental health problems increase during quarantine or isolation [5,6]. Recent studies on mental health during COVID-19 reported increased mental health problems [7,8,9,10].
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