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) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 大流行期间退伍军人健康管理部门的心理健康治疗和远程心理健康的作用。


量化接受精神健康障碍和不良事件治疗的患者的总体趋势，包括在大流行相关的医疗保健转型过程中通过远程心理健康 (TMH) 和精神药理学进行治疗。纵向观察性研究，包括 2017 年 1 月 1 日至 2020 年 6 月 16 日在退伍军人健康管理局 (VHA) 机构接受心理健康治疗的退伍军人。观察和预期的抑郁症、创伤后应激障碍、物质使用障碍的持续治疗和新治疗的患者护理，描述了严重精神疾病诊断、服药过量和自杀企图，以及抗抑郁药、抗精神病药、苯二氮卓类药物、阿片类药物和情绪稳定药物的精神药物处方。计算了新冠肺炎大流行最初几个月（2020 年 3 月 18 日至 5 月 5 日）实际计数与预期计数之间的百分比变化。在大流行初期，接受心理健康治疗的患者数量下降了 7% 至 20%（持续治疗）和 28% 至 37%（新治疗）。 TMH 在 VHA 中迅速扩展，成为交付遭遇战的主要方式。因自杀未遂而接受持续护理的患者数量稳定，而因服药过量而接受持续护理的患者数量减少了 17%。因自杀未遂和服药过量而开始护理的患者数量分别减少了 30% 和 38%。精神药物的每周处方和现有药物数量从减少 2% 到增加 4% 不等。新患者处方减少了 21%-50%。 VHA 和其他大型医疗保健系统需要扩大覆盖范围并继续开发 TMH 服务，以维持护理连续性，并在 COVID-19 和未来大规模疫情、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) 2022 APA，保留所有权利）。