2 results
Substance use among people with severe mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes: the role of community-based treatment
- S. Levaj, S. Medved, J. Gerlach, L. Shields-Zeeman, F. Bolinski, Z. Bradaš, Z. Madžarac, I. Rojnić Palavra, M. Rojnić Kuzman
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S598
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted mental healthcare delivery in many countries. The restricted access to psychiatric services and double disasters (pandemic and earthquakes) coincided in Croatia, potentially placing people with severe mental illness (SMI) in a very vulnerable position.
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the changes in substance use in people with SMI in the first and the second COVID-19 wave and co-occurring earthquakes. The secondary aim was to explore whether the type of treatment (community mental health teams (CMHT) vs. treatment as usual) influenced those changes.
MethodsThis study was nested within the RECOVER-E project (LaRge-scalE implementation of COmmunity based mental health care for people with seVere and Enduring mental ill health in EuRopE, Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, grant agreement No 779362). The study involved 90 participants with SMI assessed at two time points: in May/June 2020 (during the first COVID-19 wave and after Zagreb earthquake) and in December 2020/January 2021 (during the second COVID-19 wave and after Petrinja earthquake). The changes in the use of psychoactive substances (alcohol, cannabis, other drugs, sedatives) were assessed using self-reported survey.
ResultsThe increase in tobacco smoking behavior and the use of sedatives was observed in both COVID-19 waves in people with SMI. No increase was reported in cannabis and other drugs use, while less than 5% of participants reported increase in alcohol consumption. Not receiving CMHT service predicted the increase in sedative use.
ConclusionsEnsuring accessible mental health care provided by CMHT is recommended for counteracting the negative effect of external stressors (such as pandemic and co-occurring earthquakes) on the increased substance use among people with SMI.
Disclosure of InterestS. Levaj Grant / Research support from: Project RECOVER-E - European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme; Grant Agreement No 779362., S. Medved Grant / Research support from: Project RECOVER-E - European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme; Grant Agreement No 779362., J. Gerlach: None Declared, L. Shields-Zeeman Grant / Research support from: Project RECOVER-E - European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme; Grant Agreement No 779362., F. Bolinski Grant / Research support from: Project RECOVER-E - European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme; Grant Agreement No 779362., Z. Bradaš Grant / Research support from: Project RECOVER-E - European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme; Grant Agreement No 779362., Z. Madžarac Grant / Research support from: Project RECOVER-E - European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme; Grant Agreement No 779362., I. Rojnić Palavra: None Declared, M. Rojnić Kuzman Grant / Research support from: Project RECOVER-E - European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme; Grant Agreement No 779362.
The EFPT-PSUD survey
- I. Rojnic Palavra, L. Orsolini, M. Potocan, Q. Diego, M. Martens, J. Levola, L. Grichy, T.M. Gondek, M. Casanova Dias, M. Pinto da Costa, S. Tomori, S. Mullerova, E. Sonmez, M. Borovcanin, V. Banjac, P. Marinova, I.K. Pakutkaitė, J. Kuiters, A.L. Popescu, E. Biskup, S. Naughton, A. San Roman Uria
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 41 / Issue S1 / April 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 March 2020, pp. S482-S483
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Although psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUD) belong to the domain of mental health, their management varies greatly among European countries. Furthermore, both the role of psychiatrists and trainees in the treatment of PSUD is not the same for each European country.
AimsAmong the context of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT), the PSUD Working Group has developed a survey that has been spread out between the 15th of august 2015 and 15th of October 2016, at the aim of gathering information about the training in PSUD in Europe, both from Child and Adolescent, and General Adult Psychiatric (CAP and GAP) trainees.
ObjectivesThe survey investigated, at European level, the organisation of the PSUD training, trainees satisfaction, attitudes towards people who use psychoactive substances, management of pharmacologic and involvement in common clinical situations.
MethodsA 70-items questionnaire regarding the aforementioned objectives was developed, and shared trough an online data-collecting system among European CAP and GAP trainees, with 40 trainees per country filling the survey in at least 25 countries. One national coordinator per country facilitated the delivering of the survey.
ResultsA total of 1250 surveys were filled from more than 25 European countries.
ConclusionsData from the survey will be promptly analysed.
The survey will be the first to explore European psychiatric trainees attitudes and practices about PSUD. Findings from this independent survey may serve in understanding the needs of trainees in the field of substance misuse psychiatry.
Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.