gms | German Medical Science

Background and status of (inter)national research: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people and institutions worldwide. Governments have implemented measures to control the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus, such as closure of schools, non-essential businesses and cultural institutions, physical distancing, quarantine of identified cases, and curfews. Mental healthcare services have also been impacted by the pandemic and these control measures. For instance, some services had to close down completely, others implemented telepsychiatric services, or re-structured their services in order to enable the continued treatment of psychiatric patients with COVID-19.

Question and objective: The objective of the present study is to investigate how psychiatric services in the German city of [anonymous] have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictive measures. The study aims to identify positive and negative structural changes caused by the pandemic, as well as changes in staff and content of services offered. This research might help to better meet the needs of psychiatric patients and care providers in future pandemic or emergency-state situations.

Method: A mixed-method study is currently being carried out consisting of an online survey and qualitative semi-structured interviews. The survey has been sent out to all institutions involved in community psychiatric and psychosocial support in the city. Furthermore, the qualitative interviews are being conducted with professionals from selected mental healthcare services. Interviews will be analysed using thematic analysis. The qualitative and quantitative findings will be compared and contrasted with the results of an evaluation of psychiatric community services in [anonymous] that was conducted in 2019.