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Research article
Oswald D. Kothgassner
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3243-0238
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Adolescents suffering from psychiatric disorders are at risk of disproportionally suffering from the current COVID-19-pandemic. We aimed to assess their specific needs and to evaluate factors influencing a successful transition into teletherapy.
Methods
Thirty adolescent psychiatric outpatients participated in a series of interviews. The primary outcome was the level of psychosocial functioning. Secondary outcome were potential changes in differential symptom domains. Additionally, answers to open questions were analysed qualitatively.
Results
Within-group effect size estimates revealed a significant decrease in the level of functioning within the first two months after transition from face-to-face therapy (M = 2·7, SD = 1·258) to teletherapy (M = 3·0, SD = 1·245) (T29 = -2·536, p = 0·017, d = 0·46). Qualitative analysis revealed a marked difference in the level of perceived social support in the subgroup of patients who deteriorated in their level of functioning. Those patients also showed a lower degree of verbal differentiation concerning emotions and affect, as well as a higher degree of introspection and rumination.
Conclusions
Despite an overall deterioration, in absolute numbers most patients showed a stagnation in their level of functioning, even if difficulties were expressed. The most prominent difference in the subgroup who showed a decreased level of functioning, was the lack of perceived social support. Provision of strategies to enhance verbalisation and differentiation of emotions and affect might be beneficial.
Keywords
child and adolescent psychiatry, adolescents, mental health, psychiatric disorders, COVID-19, pandemic, teletherapy
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This is a preprint. It has not completed peer review.
Research article
Oswald D. Kothgassner
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3243-0238
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 09 Jul, 2020
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Psychiatry
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Adolescents suffering from psychiatric disorders are at risk of disproportionally suffering from the current COVID-19-pandemic. We aimed to assess their specific needs and to evaluate factors influencing a successful transition into teletherapy.
Methods
Thirty adolescent psychiatric outpatients participated in a series of interviews. The primary outcome was the level of psychosocial functioning. Secondary outcome were potential changes in differential symptom domains. Additionally, answers to open questions were analysed qualitatively.
Results
Within-group effect size estimates revealed a significant decrease in the level of functioning within the first two months after transition from face-to-face therapy (M = 2·7, SD = 1·258) to teletherapy (M = 3·0, SD = 1·245) (T29 = -2·536, p = 0·017, d = 0·46). Qualitative analysis revealed a marked difference in the level of perceived social support in the subgroup of patients who deteriorated in their level of functioning. Those patients also showed a lower degree of verbal differentiation concerning emotions and affect, as well as a higher degree of introspection and rumination.
Conclusions
Despite an overall deterioration, in absolute numbers most patients showed a stagnation in their level of functioning, even if difficulties were expressed. The most prominent difference in the subgroup who showed a decreased level of functioning, was the lack of perceived social support. Provision of strategies to enhance verbalisation and differentiation of emotions and affect might be beneficial.
Figure 1
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