Background: The previous and current studies highlight the psychological distress caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated restrictions among the general population, especially among children and adolescents; however, few studies have examined children and adolescents with a mental disorder. The current study aimed to explore whether youth with mental disorders show a higher pandemic-associated psychological burden than healthy children and adolescents and to determine which psychiatric diagnoses are particularly associated with a higher distress level. Methods: In this study, 144 children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 18 years with a mental disorder and 48 children and adolescents within the same age range without a mental disorder, and their caregivers, completed questionnaires assessing the pandemic-associated trauma symptoms (the Child Report of Post-Traumatic Symptoms [CROPS] and the Parents Report of Post-Traumatic Symptoms [PROPS]). Additionally, we asked specific questions about the pandemic-associated stress factors, such as financial problems, prolonged screen times, or loneliness. Results: Children and adolescents with a mental illness showed a significantly higher psychological burden than their mentally healthy peers. Female gender was a risk factor for a higher self-reported psychological burden, and younger age was associated with a more extensive parent-reported psychological burden. The patients with a depressive disorder showed significantly higher levels of psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic than the patients with an attention deficit and/or a conduct disorder. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with a mental illness, particularly, female children and individuals with a depressive disorder, are at an increased risk of suffering from pandemic-associated psychological distress. Adequate mental health care options, such as telepsychiatry, are indispensable.
【저자키워드】 quarantine, COVID-19 pandemic, Mental disorder, Psychological burden, mental health children and adolescents, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Stress, mental health, children, loneliness, Gender, Symptom, risk factor, Child, female, Patient, Psychological distress, Factors, age, Psychological, General population, Care, questionnaire, trauma, distress, problems, increased risk, individual, depressive, mental illness, parent, disorder, report, healthy children, Mental, highlight, examined, caused, healthy, the patient, determine, question, significantly higher, Adequate, asked, psychiatric diagnose, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, Impact, Adolescent,