PMID- 34369842 OWN - NLM STAT- Publisher LR - 20240220 IS - 1502-4725 (Electronic) IS - 0803-9488 (Linking) DP - 2021 Aug 9 TI - Vulnerability of personality disorder during COVID-19 crises: a multicenter survey of mental and social distress among patients referred to treatment. PG - 1-12 LID - 10.1080/08039488.2021.1942980 [doi] AB - BACKGROUND: Relational and emotional problems, dysregulation, self-harming or substance abuse often characterize personality disorders (PD). In Norway, COVID-19 restrictions led to an abrupt shutdown of services from 12 March 2020 also including specialized PD treatments. AIMS: The objective of this study was to investigate social and mental distress among patients with PDs during the first COVID-19 wave. DESIGN: A survey was distributed after the first COVID-19 wave (June-October 2020) among 1120 patients from 12 PD treatment units. RESULTS: The response rate was 12% (N = 133). The survey reflected impairment of occupational activity (53% <50% activity last 6 months), life quality (EQ-5D-VAS: 56, SD 19), and personality functioning (LPFS-BF >/=12: 81%, 35% avoidant PD, 44% borderline PD) and high levels of depression and anxiety (PHQ-9 >/= 10: 84%, GAD-7 >/= 10: 68%), 49% with health-related anxiety. Problem increase was reported for anxiety (28%), depression (24%), aggression (23%), substance use (14%), and 70% of parents had more child-care difficulties. Self-destructive behaviors (26%) did not increase. The majority (78%) reported increased or unchanged social isolation and loneliness. Occupational activity declined with negative effects on part-time jobs/rehabilitation. Therapist contact was mainly telephone-based (63% >/= weekly contact). More severe personality problems, current depressive symptoms, and self-harming before 12 March were associated with more frequent consultations. CONCLUSION: The survey confirms severe, enhanced levels of mental distress among patients receiving telephone-based consultations as the main alternative to specialized PD treatment during the COVID-19 shutdown. The most vulnerable patients received more frequent consultations and self-destructive actions did not increase. FAU - Hartveit Kvarstein, Elfrida AU - Hartveit Kvarstein E AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-9221-4249 AD - Section for Personality psychiatry and specialized treatments, Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. AD - Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. FAU - Zahl, Kjell-Einar AU - Zahl KE AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-9625-1351 AD - Group Therapy Section, Follo District Psychiatric Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Norway. FAU - Stanicke, Line Indrevoll AU - Stanicke LI AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-7522-8307 AD - Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. AD - Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Deacon Hospital, Oslo, Norway. FAU - Pettersen, Mona Skjeklesaether AU - Pettersen MS AD - Department of Substance Abuse, Clinic for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromso, Norway. AD - Network for Personality Disorders, Section for Personality psychiatry and specialized treatments, Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. FAU - Baltzersen, Ase-Line AU - Baltzersen AL AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-4823-0991 AD - National Advisory unit for Personality Psychiatry, Section for Personality psychiatry and specialized treatments, Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. AD - Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Norway. FAU - Johansen, Merete Selsbak AU - Johansen MS AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-8608-3780 AD - Outpatient Clinic for Specialized Treatment of Personality Disorders, Section for Personality psychiatry and specialized treatments, Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. FAU - Eikenaes, Ingeborg Ulltveit-Moe AU - Eikenaes IU AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-7508-5657 AD - National Advisory unit for Personality Psychiatry, Section for Personality psychiatry and specialized treatments, Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. FAU - Hummelen, Benjamin AU - Hummelen B AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-8717-8076 AD - Section for Treatment Research, Department for Research and Innovation, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. FAU - Wilberg, Theresa AU - Wilberg T AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-4700-0388 AD - Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. AD - Section for Treatment Research, Department for Research and Innovation, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. FAU - Ajo Arnevik, Espen AU - Ajo Arnevik E AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-1071-0017 AD - Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Department for Research and Innovation, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. FAU - Pedersen, Geir AU - Pedersen G AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-6202-2745 AD - Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. AD - Network for Personality Disorders, Section for Personality psychiatry and specialized treatments, Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20210809 PL - England TA - Nord J Psychiatry JT - Nordic journal of psychiatry JID - 100927567 SB - IM OTO - NOTNLM OT - COVID-19 crises OT - Personality disorder OT - mental and social distress EDAT- 2021/08/10 06:00 MHDA- 2021/08/10 06:00 CRDT- 2021/08/09 12:17 PHST- 2021/08/09 12:17 [entrez] PHST- 2021/08/10 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2021/08/10 06:00 [medline] AID - 10.1080/08039488.2021.1942980 [doi] PST - aheadofprint SO - Nord J Psychiatry. 2021 Aug 9:1-12. doi: 10.1080/08039488.2021.1942980.