during the study period (08/02/2021 – 11/05/2021) the Centre of Psychiatry in the Jahn Ferenc South-pest Hospital (CP-JFSH) was one of the two psychiatric wards in Budapest, specialized for the treatment of COVID-19 infected psychiatric patients.

the aim of the study was to survey the characteristics and evaluate the outcome of the COVID-19 infected psychiatric patients treated in the CP-JFSH.

retrospective analysis of the files of COVID-19 infected psychiatric patients admitted to the CP-JFSH in a 3 month period. In addition to demographic data, diagnostic distribution, co-morbidities, date of infection, method of detection of the virus, presence of pneumonia, severity of infection, outcome, treatment, vaccination data were evaluated.

in the study period 124 COVID-19 infected psychiaric patients were admitted to the CP-JFSH. The gender distribution was aproximately equal, the mean age of the patients was 62.8+/-15.7 years. Majority of the patients suffered from major neurocognitive disorder followed by schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Most common co-morbidities were cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Pneumonia was present in 41% of the patients. Majority of the patients were already infected at the time of admission, detected with the first PCR examination and haven’t been vaccinated yet. Thirty-one percent of the patients suffered from moderate to severe COVID-19 illness. COVID-19 specific therapy (favipiravir, remdesivir, fluvoxamin) was introduced in 57%. Mortality was 12% while the relaps rate 4%.

comparing with inpatient mortality rate published in the literature, mortality rate was higher among psychiatric patients, underlining the need for special attention of this population.

No significant relationships.

The objective of the paper was to survey patients’ preference in relation to a continuity, or split, model of inpatient consultant care in the Louth Mental Health Service.

A written survey was administered to all patients attending the Louth Mental Health Service over a 2-week period. Participants were asked for their preferred model of care and clinical information was obtained from their clinical notes.

In total, 149 patients completed the survey questionnaire and 103 respondents (69%) indicated a preference for a continuity model of inpatient consultant psychiatric care. There was a trend for those who reported a past experience of inpatient hospitalisation to indicate a preference for the continuity model (76% v. 61%, respectively, χ2 3.67, p=0.056).

Patients indicate a preference for a continuity model of inpatient psychiatric care and this is important to consider in service planning. More research is needed to evaluate if any model of consultant care is associated with better patient outcomes.