To quantify overall trends in patients treated for mental health disorders and adverse events, including via tele-mental health (TMH) and psychopharmacology during pandemic-related health care transformation. Longitudinal observational study including veterans receiving mental health treatment at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility from January 1, 2017 to June 16, 2020. Observed and expected patient care for on-going and new treatment of depression, posttraumatic stress, substance use disorder, severe mental illness diagnoses, overdose, and suicide attempts, and psychotropic prescriptions for antidepressant, antipsychotic, benzodiazepine, opioid, and mood stabilizing medications are depicted. Percent change between actual and expected counts in the early months of the COVID pandemic (March 18-May 5, 2020) are computed. Decreases in counts of patients receiving mental health treatment early in the pandemic ranged from 7% to 20% for on-going treatment, and 28% to 37% for new treatment. TMH rapidly expanded across VHA, becoming the primary means by which encounters were delivered. Counts of patients receiving on-going care for suicide attempts were stable, and for overdoses, decreased by 17%. Counts of patients initiating care for suicide attempts and overdoses decreased by 30% and 38%, respectively. Weekly prescriptions and medication on-hand for psychotropics ranged from a 2% decrease to a 4% increase. New patient prescribing decreased 21%-50%. VHA and other large healthcare systems will need to expand outreach and continue to develop TMH services to maintain care continuity and initiate care for existing and new patients during COVID-19 and future large-scale outbreaks, epidemics, and disasters. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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在COVID-19大流行期间，在退伍军人健康管理局中进行心理健康治疗和远程心理健康的作用。

量化在与大流行相关的医疗保健转型过程中通过远程心理健康（TMH）和心理药理学治疗的心理健康障碍和不良事件患者的总体趋势。纵向观察研究，包括退伍军人从2017年1月1日至2020年6月16日在退伍军人卫生管理局（VHA）设施接受心理健康治疗的情况。观察和预期的患者护理，涉及持续的和新的抑郁症，创伤后压力，物质使用障碍的治疗描绘了严重的精神疾病诊断，用药过量和自杀企图，以及抗抑郁药，抗精神病药，苯二氮卓，阿片类药物和稳定情绪药物的精神处方。计算了COVID大流行初期（2020年3月18日至5月5日）的实际计数与预期计数之间的百分比变化。大流行初期接受心理健康治疗的患者人数持续减少，持续治疗范围为7％至20％，新治疗范围为28％至37％。TMH在VHA上迅速扩展，成为提供相遇的主要手段。接受自杀未遂治疗的患者数量稳定，而服用过量的患者数量下降了17％。开始照护自杀未遂和服用过量的患者人数分别减少了30％和38％。精神药物的每周处方和药物治疗量从2％减少到4％不等。新患者开药减少了21％-50％。VHA和其他大型医疗保健系统将需要扩大服务范围，并继续开发TMH服务，以维持护理的连续性，并在COVID-19和未来大规模爆发，流行病和灾难期间为现有和新患者提供护理。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2021 APA，保留所有权利）。