The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Psychiatric Outpatient Visits in Abu Dhabi – A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Coronavirus pandemics has affected mental health services around the globe. A marked reduction in psychiatric admission and emergency visits were reported recently. With regards to outpatient services, there was an adoption of tele-psychiatry facilities many countries. Objectives: To examine impact COVID-19 on largest Psychiatric Hospital Abu Dhabi, UAE, during month April 2020. Methodology: descriptive retrospective study medical records all patients attended general adult psychiatry clinic Results: 1,050 included analysis. The sample consists 55.9% males. mean age 40.7 years. predominant ethnicity Arab (88.3%). most prevalent diagnosis depressive disorder 32.7%. Only 1.6 % as new appointments. Tele-assessment conducted 64% (N=672) visits. 9.3 be relapse April. Patient with schizophrenia showed lowest rate 5.7%. 8.5% had taken PCR COVID test, two tested positive. Conclusion: great shift tele-assessments service medications home delivery main reason for maintaining settings.