[Pandemic COVID-19: what about patients with mental health disorders?]

Huguelet, Philippe; Restellini, Aurélio; Stamatiou, Nikoletta; Nteli, Aikaterini; Vidal, Sonia

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a major challenge for the general population. What about people already suffering from mental health problems? We describe the results of a regular survey conducted on patients undergoing treatment in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. The goal was to determine their experience of the first wave of the pandemic, its impact on the meaning of their lives and their spirituality and the types of support (medical and other) they receive. The results highlight that the role of outpatient treatment (sometimes the only assistance provided when containment measures are put in place) is important for a large number of patients. Overall, these data justify and inform the continuation of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment during the pandemic period.