Introduction

Sexual violence (SV) is an important public health concern which may induce important and long lasting mental health problems. However, studies on SV and its mental health impact on older adults and more specifically gerontopsychiatric patients are currently lacking.

Objectives

This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the prevalence, risk factors and mental health impact of SV in a gerontopsychiatric patient population.

Methods

Between July 2019 and March 2020 100 patients (66%F, 34%M) participated in a face to face interview on health, sexuality and wellbeing during their admission at an old age psychiatry ward in one general hospital and two psychiatric hospitals across Flanders, Belgium. Participation rate was 58%. Interviews were performed by a psychiatric trainee and especially trained master students in medicine.

Results

58% (65%F; 42%M) of the participants were sexually victimised during their life, 45% (51%F, 33%F) experienced hands-off SV, 43% (48%F, 33%M) sexual abuse with physical contact and 16% (6%M, 21%F) was raped. 7% were sexually victimised in the past year. Compared with non-victimized respondents, hands-on SV victims (incl. rape) described more symptoms of depression (p=0.007) and anxiety (p=0.003) and reported lower resilience (p=0.022).

Conclusions

SV appears to be common in the gerontopsychiatric population and is linked to even worse mental health outcomes. These findings confirm the long-lasting mental health impact of SV and highlight the importance of attention to (sexual) trauma in mental health care in old age.

Abstract Body

Introduction
Several studies link COVID-19 and the associated lockdown and social-distancing measures to adverse mental health outcomes. In order to address this increase in mental health problems, adequate training of mental health care professionals is of the utmost importance.

Objectives
To measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychiatric training in Europe and beyond.

Methods
The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) represents more than 20 000 trainees from over 30 European countries. Every year, country representatives, complete the ‘Country Report’, which contains detailed information on psychiatric training in every (member) country.

Results
In July 2020, representatives of 34 European and 9 non-European countries completed the survey. In 73% of countries, psychiatric trainees were assigned to COVID-19 wards, in 43% to emergency wards. In 25% of countries, trainees did not receive any training on COVID-19 prior to their assignment. Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, trainees reported a decrease in clinical supervision in 65% of countries. In 51% of countries, (parts of) formal psychiatric training was cancelled. Psychotherapy training was cancelled in 25% of countries. In the majority of countries both formal and psychotherapy training were given online, however in 56% trainees experienced difficulties to attend.

Conclusions
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extensive impact on psychiatric training in Europe and beyond. The EFPT calls upon policy makers and supervisors to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric training in order to provide psychiatric trainees with adequate skills to deal with the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.