CHARACTERISTICS OF ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 IN A THIRD-LEVEL HOSPITAL IN PERU

ABSTRACT ObjectiveTo describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of acute psychiatric disorders in COVID-19 patients in an emergency department at a national reference psychiatry and mental health hospital. MethodsA descriptive observational study was performed. Data were collected from medical records of patients admitted by emergency according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The group of patients with a first acute psychiatric episode vs. patients with more than one acute psychiatric episode were compared. Results110 patients were included; 61.8% corresponded to the female sex and the mean age was 36 ± 12.3 years. 49.1% corresponded to schizophrenia, followed by acute polymorphic psychotic disorder (13.6%), bipolar disorder (10%), and depressive episodes (7.3%). Psychotic disorders and depressive episodes occurred in a higher percentage in the group with a first episode, 42.4% (p< 0.001), and 15.2% (p< 0.001), respectively. The episodes of schizophrenia were higher in the group of patients with previous episodes (63.6%). ConclusionsA higher frequency of cases of acute psychotic disorder and depressive disorders was found as the first episode in patients with COVID-19 infection; however, within the group with previous episodes, greater predominance of patients with acute disorders due to schizophrenia was found.