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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Service Utilization in Children and Adolescents

Completed
Conditions
Mental Disorder, Child
Registration Number
NCT05260866
Lead Sponsor
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Brief Summary

Mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic may be vast and may potentially overwhelm the mental health system in a long-lasting manner. Evaluating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents has become an immediate priority. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on use of mental health resources namely 1) prescriptions of psychotropic medications and 2) mental health-related outpatient visits, hospitalizations and emergency department visits in children and adolescents in France. Secondary aim is to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on episodes of fatal and non-fatal self-harm episodes in the same population. This will be a population-based cohort study using data from healthcare claims, administrative medical and outpatient drug dispensation databases in France between January 1, 2016 and June 1, 2021. Findings will inform on the risk of upcoming outbreaks of mental disorders that can result in significant morbidity and mortality and guide timely targeted actions to improve mental health outcomes and wellbeing in the youngest.

Detailed Description

Mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic may be vast and may potentially overwhelm the mental health system in a long-lasting manner. Evaluating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents has become an immediate priority. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on use of mental health resources namely 1) prescriptions of psychotropic medications and 2) mental health-related outpatient visits, hospitalizations and emergency department visits in children and adolescents in France. Secondary aim is to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on episodes of fatal and non-fatal self-harm episodes in the same population. This will be a population-based cohort study using data from healthcare claims, administrative medical and outpatient drug dispensation databases in France between January 1, 2016 and June 1, 2021. Findings will inform on the risk of upcoming outbreaks of mental disorders that can result in significant morbidity and mortality and guide timely targeted actions to improve mental health outcomes and wellbeing in the youngest.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
500000
Inclusion Criteria
  • Children and adolescents aged from 6 to 18 years
  • One dispensation of psychotropic medication or
  • One mental-health related hospitalization or
  • One reimbursement for an outpatient mental-health related consultation or
  • One eligibility to long-term diseases corresponding to long term psychiatric diseases or
  • One mental-health related cause of death using ICD-10 codes
Exclusion Criteria
  • none

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on use of mental health resources1 year

prescriptions of psychotropic medications; mental health-related outpatient visits; mental health-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on episodes of fatal and non-fatal self-harm episodes in children and adolescents in France1 year

monthly counts and rates of fatal and non-fatal self-harm episodes will be assessed throughout the study period

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Robert Debre Hospital - Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris

🇫🇷

Paris, France

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