Practical observations - the COVID-19 influence on latvian early intervention work with first episode psychosis (FEP) patients

Abstract

IntroductionCOVID-19 is a very stressful experience for people with FEP and changed the work routine of the mental health services they have used.ObjectivesIn this work, we aim to explore how the restrictions influenced the out-patient visits and rehospitalization rates.MethodsThe Latvian Early intervention programme (Berze et al.,2019) for patients with FEP had started on 1st January, 2019. The 1st group of patients (n=28) finished the programme on 31st December, 2019. The 2nd group of patients were enrolled in programme on 1st January, 2020 (n=12). When on 12th of March in Latvia health care restriction started due the COVID-19 situation, we were forced to change our structure of LAT-EIP.ResultsThe average patient age of patients was 29.9 (SD±7.1) years in the 1st group, in 2nd group average age is 26.2 (SD±5.9) accordingly in years. In the 1st group 60.7% of patients visited the psychiatrist 6-10 times vs 8.33% in 2nd group, in the 1st group 32.1 % of patients had 2-5 visits with psychiatrist vs 75% in 2nd group. There were 72 family sessions in 1st group, whereas in 2nd group the family sessions were excluded. During the programme 7% (n=2) of patients in the 1st group were rehospitalized vs 25% (n=3).ConclusionsThe structure of LAT-EIP had change at the time of COVID-19 restrictions, unfortunately our work lack the statistical power. From the descriptive statistics, we can speculate that the rehospitalization rate is higher because of the lack of regular contact with psychiatrist and the lack of psychoeducation with families.