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. 2020 Sep;37(3):243-245.
doi: 10.1017/ipm.2020.43. Epub 2020 May 14.

COVID-19 and its impact on child and adolescent psychiatry - a German and personal perspective

Jörg M Fegert  1 , Ulrike M E Schulze  1   2
Affiliations

COVID-19 and its impact on child and adolescent psychiatry - a German and personal perspective

Jörg M Fegert et al. Ir J Psychol Med. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

As in other European countries, the current COVID-19 pandemic has not only massively restricted normal life in Germany but it is also having a significant effect on medical treatment, particularly in the areas of child and adolescent psychiatric care, as well as on university teaching. The federal structure of Germany and epidemiological differences between individual federal states have had a crucial impact on the regulations issued and their success. During the last number of weeks, tele-child-psychiatry and psychotherapy have increased, and outpatient services have been used cautiously and sparingly. Medical staff numbers will be augmented by doctors and nurses returning from retirement and also by medical students on a voluntary basis. The federal government has warned that discrepancies in education will increase due to the closure of schools. Questions of child protection are currently of particular importance in the context of such closures and the non-availability of day-care centers.

Keywords: COVID-19; Germany; child protection; perspective; youth psychiatric care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Jörg M. Fegert received research funding by EU, DFG, BMG, BMBF, BMFSFJ, Ministries of Social Affairs of the Federal States, Baden-Württemberg Foundation, Pontifical Gregorian University, Caritas, CJD. He also got travel grants, lecture fees, event and training sponsorship from DFG, AACAP, NIMH/NIH, EU, Goethe Institute, Pro Helvetia, Adenauer, Böll and Ebert Foundation, Shire, professional associations, and universities as well as ministries. Additionally, he was involved in clinical trials and consulting for Servier, BMBF, Lundbeck.

Ulrike M.E. Schulze actually serves as an unpaid ethics advisor for two EU-funded projects. During the last years, her research work was partially funded by the EU (FP7 funding programme). She also has received a speaker’s fee from Shire.

References

    1. Deutscher Bundestag 11. electoral period, Drucksache 11/3480 24.11.88, Bericht des Ausschusses für Arbeit und Sozialordnung (11. Ausschuss).
    1. Fegert JM, Clemens V, Berthold O (2020. a). COVID-19-Pandemie – Kinderschutz ist systemrelevant. Deutsches Ärzteblatt 117 (4), 703–707.
    1. Fegert JM, Vitiello B, Karwautz A, et al. (2020. b). COVID-19: services must remain active, we must communicate with networking partners and avoid further closure of psychiatric units (https://www.escap.eu/index/coronavirus-and-mental-health/maintain-contac...). Accessed 9 April 2020.
    1. The Academic Advisory Board on Family Affairs of the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (2020). Rethinking Germany’s 2020 summer vacation (https://www.hertie-school.org/en/debate/allcontent/detail/content/rethin...). Accessed 14 April 2020.