Hülstrunk Christian, Schmitt Benjamin, Weber Joelle, Vedder Nikola, Feldhege Johannes, Wohlmuth Peter, Roevenich Udo, Zabar Omar
Asklepios Katharina Schroth Clinic, Bad Sobernheim, Germany.
Asklepios Clinic Triberg, Triberg, Germany.
Eur Spine J. 2025 Sep 2. doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-09309-7.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has adversely affected the mental health of children and adolescents due to widespread non-pharmaceutical measures. Studies have mainly focused on healthy adolescents. However, children and adolescents with chronic illnesses were also affected by the restrictions. Furthermore, very limited knowledge exists about their mental health during and after the pandemic. The aim of this study was to analyse changes in the mental well-being of children and adolescents with scoliosis in Germany before, during, and after the pandemic, and to identify associated influencing factors.
The data from a comprehensive questionnaire and the evaluation of psychological one-on-one interviews during scoliosis intensive rehabilitation of 9,835 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years regarding their mental health were retrospectively evaluated from 2019 to 2023. On this basis, it was possible to identify specific psychiatric illnesses. The evaluation was conducted based on both the individual years and the categorisation of pandemic waves proposed by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). We additionally analysed the risk factors for mental health deterioration over the period.
There was a significant deterioration in mental health. Depression, anxiety disorders and general psychopathological symptoms increased significantly over time. The peak of the stress occurred in 2021 or during the fourth wave. In 2022 or the fifth and sixth waves, the mental impairments consolidated slightly. However, after the complete cessation of non-pharmaceutical measures, some patients even showed a progressive deterioration in mental health compared to before and during the pandemic. Girls and patients with pain were more affected. The severity of scoliosis was not a risk factor, and adolescents showed greater impairment than children under the age of 12.
Children and adolescents with chronic scoliosis also showed an impairment of their mental health during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. The results are consistent with those of studies in healthy children and adolescents. Notably, despite the lifting of restrictions, there was no consolidation of symptoms. There is still an urgent need to maintain the focus on this issue and to provide appropriate support for children and adolescents in a vulnerable phase of life. Meanwhile, collaborative projects have been set up in Germany that have set themselves the task of better supporting health needs and interests in the event to future crises.
由于广泛实施的非药物措施，新冠疫情对儿童和青少年的心理健康产生了不利影响。研究主要集中在健康青少年群体。然而，患有慢性病的儿童和青少年也受到了这些限制措施的影响。此外，对于他们在疫情期间及之后的心理健康状况，人们了解得非常有限。本研究的目的是分析德国脊柱侧弯儿童和青少年在疫情前、疫情期间和疫情后的心理健康变化，并确定相关影响因素。
回顾性评估了2019年至2023年期间，9835名7至18岁脊柱侧弯儿童和青少年在脊柱侧弯强化康复期间，关于心理健康的综合问卷数据以及一对一心理访谈评估结果。在此基础上，能够识别特定的精神疾病。评估是基于各个年份以及罗伯特·科赫研究所（RKI）提出的疫情波次分类进行的。我们还分析了这一时期心理健康恶化的风险因素。
心理健康状况出现了显著恶化。抑郁、焦虑症和一般精神病理症状随时间显著增加。压力峰值出现在2021年或第四波疫情期间。在2022年或第五、第六波疫情期间，精神损伤略有巩固。然而，在完全停止非药物措施后，与疫情前和疫情期间相比，一些患者的心理健康甚至出现了渐进性恶化。女孩和有疼痛症状的患者受影响更大。脊柱侧弯的严重程度不是一个风险因素，青少年比12岁以下儿童表现出更严重的损伤。
患有慢性脊柱侧弯的儿童和青少年在新冠疫情期间也出现了心理健康损伤。这些结果与针对健康儿童和青少年的研究结果一致。值得注意的是，尽管限制措施解除，但症状并未得到巩固。仍然迫切需要持续关注这个问题，并在儿童和青少年生命的脆弱阶段为他们提供适当的支持。与此同时，德国已经设立了合作项目，其任务是在未来危机事件中更好地支持健康需求和利益。
