Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36673950›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of environmental research and public health2023

A Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis of Mental Health Admissions: Measuring the Fallout of the Pandemic.

Sean Warwicker, Denise Sant, Adrian Richard, Jake Cutajar, Annalise Bellizzi, Gertrude Micallef, Daniel Refalo, Liberato Camilleri, Anton Grech

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Utilization of mental health services during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic - a systematic review and meta-analysis.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sean WarwickerMount Carmel Hospital, ATD 9033 H'Attard, Malta.ORCID 0000-0003-2226-7032
Denise SantMater Dei Hospital, MSD 2090 Msida, Malta.
Adrian RichardMount Carmel Hospital, ATD 9033 H'Attard, Malta.
Jake CutajarMount Carmel Hospital, ATD 9033 H'Attard, Malta.
Annalise BellizziMount Carmel Hospital, ATD 9033 H'Attard, Malta.
Gertrude MicallefMount Carmel Hospital, ATD 9033 H'Attard, Malta.ORCID 0000-0002-9111-7874
Daniel RefaloDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta.ORCID 0000-0003-0545-8822
Liberato CamilleriDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta.ORCID 0000-0001-8147-0116
Anton GrechMount Carmel Hospital, ATD 9033 H'Attard, Malta.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn this research article, we review the infrequently considered long-term impact of the pandemic on inpatient mental health, by reviewing the clinical parameters of all psychiatric admissions to Mount Carmel Hospital, our region's main psychiatric healthcare facility, from 2019-2021.

methods4292 patients were admitted during the research period of this retrospective longitudinal analysis. Taking 2019 as the pre-COVID reference year, we compared mean monthly admissions from 2020 and 2021, looking at patient demographics, status under the Mental Health Act, diagnosis, and self-injurious behaviour.

resultsWhile the pandemic was reflected in a moderate increase in mean monthly presentations with suicidal ideation and suicidal self-injury, presentations in 2020 otherwise remained largely stable. This contrasted with a surge in presentations in 2021 with mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, personality disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Furthermore, presentations involving self-injurious behaviour continued to grow. Involuntary admissions also increased significantly in 2021.

conclusionsThis paper highlights the pernicious long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health presentations, demonstrated by an increase in hospital admissions and more serious presentations. These findings should be considered in the guidance for responses to any future pandemic, giving attention to the evidence of the impact of restrictive measures on mental health.

Indexed as

COVID-19Mental HealthAnxiety DisordersHumansPandemicsRetrospective StudiesCOVID-19healthcare accesshealthcare inequalitymental health

Identifiers

PMID36673950
PMCPMC9858631

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.