Vulnerabilities in Mental Health due to Covid-19 Pandemic: The Response of the Italian Physicians

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing vulnerabilities and inequalities in societies. In this paper we analyse the categories that have suffered more than others from the pandemic and the restrictions on social life in terms of mental health. We rely on the Serendipity project based on a survey administered between November 2021 and February 2022 to a sample of Italian physicians (n = 1281). The survey aimed to assess the perception of general practitioners, paediatricians, geriatricians, and mental health specialists (psychiatrists, neurologists, child neuropsychiatrists), about changes in the mental health of the population as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown. The strategies implemented by the doctors interviewed in terms of the intensity of the prevention, emergence, and treatment of mental health interventions, and their association with physicians’ characteristics and their opinions on patient vulnerability have been illustrated by means of a multiple correspondence analysis. An overall result of the survey is the consensus of doctors on the worsening of mental health in general population, especially among their patients, due to the pandemic and on the onset of new discomforts. The most exposed individuals to the risk of onset or worsening of mental disorders include women, young people, and patients with psychiatric comorbidity. The paper also illustrates the interventions put in place by the physicians and deemed necessary from a public heath response perspective, that include providing psychoeducation to the general population, improving telehealth services, and increasing financial and human resources for community-based care.

Effectiveness of molnupiravir for treating COVID-19 in patients with psychiatric disorders

“…By demonstrating the safety and efficacy of molnupiravir in this specific high-risk group, our study endorses its use and advocates for more inclusive treatment protocols. This is supported by De Rose et al (2023) , who also emphasized the need for tailored therapeutic strategies for patients with psychiatric conditions, recognizing their unique vulnerabilities during the pandemic. Consequently, our study not only corroborates existing evidence but also provides new insights into the management of COVID-19 among patients with psychiatric disorders, advocating for broader adoption of molnupiravir in clinical practice.…”