Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal probability sample survey of the UK population.
TL;DR: Mental health in the UK had deteriorated compared with pre-COVID-19 trends by late April, 2020, and policies emphasising the needs of women, young people and those with preschool aged children are likely to play an important part in preventing future mental illness.
About: This article is published in The Lancet Psychiatry.The article was published on 2020-10-01 and is currently open access. It has received 1636 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Mental distress & Longitudinal study.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: Findings suggest that although families experience elevated stressors from COVID-19, providing parental support and increasing perceived control may be promising intervention targets.
767 citations
TL;DR: Subgroup analyses showed that women, young people, those from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds and those with pre-existing mental health problems have worse mental health outcomes during the pandemic across most factors.
Abstract: Background
The effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the population's mental health and well-being are likely to be profound and long lasting.
Aims
To investigate the trajectory of mental health and well-being during the first 6 weeks of lockdown in adults in the UK.
Method
A quota survey design and a sampling frame that permitted recruitment of a national sample was employed. Findings for waves 1 (31 March to 9 April 2020), 2 (10 April to 27 April 2020) and 3 (28 April to 11 May 2020) are reported here. A range of mental health factors was assessed: pre-existing mental health problems, suicide attempts and self-harm, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, defeat, entrapment, mental well-being and loneliness.
Results
A total of 3077 adults in the UK completed the survey at wave 1. Suicidal ideation increased over time. Symptoms of anxiety, and levels of defeat and entrapment decreased across waves whereas levels of depressive symptoms did not change significantly. Positive well-being also increased. Levels of loneliness did not change significantly over waves. Subgroup analyses showed that women, young people (18–29 years), those from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds and those with pre-existing mental health problems have worse mental health outcomes during the pandemic across most factors.
Conclusions
The mental health and well-being of the UK adult population appears to have been affected in the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increasing rates of suicidal thoughts across waves, especially among young adults, are concerning.
702 citations
TL;DR: The findings emphasise the importance of supporting individuals in the lead-up to future lockdowns to try to reduce distress, and highlight that groups already at risk for poor mental health before the pandemic have remained at risk throughout lockdown and its aftermath.
635 citations
19 Oct 2020
TL;DR: This study showed a modest increase in the prevalence of mental health problems in the early stages of the pandemic, and these problems were predicted by several specific COVID-related variables.
Abstract: Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented global crisis necessitating drastic changes to living conditions, social life, personal freedom and economic activity. No study has yet examined the presence of psychiatric symptoms in the UK population in similar conditions.
Aims
We investigated the prevalence of COVID-19 related anxiety, generalised anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms in a representative sample of the UK population during an early phase of the pandemic, and estimated associations with variables likely to influence these symptoms.
Method
Between March 23rd and March 28th 2020, a quota sample of 2025 UK adults 18 years and older, stratified by age, sex and household income, was recruited by online survey company Qualtrics. Participants completed measures of depression (PHQ9), generalised anxiety (GAD7), and trauma symptoms relating to the pandemic (ITQ). Bivariate and multivariate associations were calculated for age, gender, rural vs urban environment, presence of children in the household, income, loss of income, pre-existing health conditions in self and someone close, infection in self and someone close, and perceived risk of infection over the next month.
Results
Higher levels of anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms were reported compared to previous population studies, but not dramatically so. Meeting the criteria for either anxiety or depression, and trauma symptoms was predicted by young age, presence of children in the home, and high estimates of personal risk. Anxiety and depression symptoms were also predicted by low income, loss of income, and pre-existing health conditions in self and other. Specific anxiety about COVID-19 was greater in older participants.
Conclusions
The UK population, especially older citizens, were largely resilient in the early stages of the pandemic. However, several specific COVID-related variables are associated with psychological distress: particularly having children at home, loss of income because of the pandemic, as well as having a pre-existing health condition, exposure to the virus and high estimates of personal risk. Further similar surveys, particularly of those with children at home, are required as the pandemic progresses.
509 citations
TL;DR: This study suggests that a pronounced and prolonged deterioration in mental health occurred as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in the UK between April and June 2020.
Abstract: Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a range of negative social and economic effects that may contribute to a rise in mental health problems. In this observational population-based study, we examined longitudinal changes in the prevalence of mental health problems from before to during the COVID-19 crisis and identified subgroups that are psychologically vulnerable during the pandemic. Methods Participants (N = 14 393; observations = 48 486) were adults drawn from wave 9 (2017-2019) of the nationally representative United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) and followed-up across three waves of assessment in April, May, and June 2020. Mental health problems were assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Results The population prevalence of mental health problems (GHQ-12 score ⩾3) increased by 13.5 percentage points from 24.3% in 2017-2019 to 37.8% in April 2020 and remained elevated in May (34.7%) and June (31.9%) 2020. All sociodemographic groups examined showed statistically significant increases in mental health problems in April 2020. The increase was largest among those aged 18-34 years (18.6 percentage points, 95% CI 14.3-22.9%), followed by females and high-income and education groups. Levels of mental health problems subsequently declined between April and June 2020 but remained significantly above pre-COVID-19 levels. Additional analyses showed that the rise in mental health problems observed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was unlikely to be due to seasonality or year-to-year variation. Conclusions This study suggests that a pronounced and prolonged deterioration in mental health occurred as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in the UK between April and June 2020.
450 citations
Cites background from "Mental health before and during the..."
...Compared with pre-lockdown, the prevalence of mental health problems was significantly higher in late April 2020 (approximately 1 month into lockdown) and this was particularly pronounced among females and younger age groups (Pierce et al., 2020a)....
[...]
...It is crucial that longitudinal research draw on probabilitybased samples drawn from across the population where the response rate is known and factors determining non-response can be accounted for (Pierce et al., 2020a, 2020b)....
[...]
...…commercial panel surveys rather than existing probability-based longitudinal samples that better represent the general population (Twenge & Joiner, 2020), and employing short periods of follow-up to identify immediate rather than medium-term effects (Huckins et al., 2020; Pierce et al., 2020a)....
[...]
...…in the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS), in which the same nationally representative sample of UK adults completed a mental health screening instrument in 2017–2019 and after the introduction of the UK government social lockdown orders on 23 March 2020 (Pierce et al., 2020a, 2020b)....
[...]
References
More filters
Karolinska Institutet1, Uppsala University2, University of Glasgow3, University College London4, University of Oxford5, King's College London6, University of Exeter7, Black Dog Institute8, University of California, Irvine9, University of Cambridge10, Swansea University11, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust12, UCL Institute of Child Health13, St George's, University of London14, Emory University15, University of Bristol16, Academy of Medical Sciences, United Kingdom17
TL;DR: There is an urgent need for research to address how mental health consequences for vulnerable groups can be mitigated under pandemic conditions, and on the impact of repeated media consumption and health messaging around COVID-19.
3,909 citations
TL;DR: This outbreak is leading to additional health problems such as stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, insomnia, denial, anger and fear globally, which can weaken strategies of COVID-19 control and lead to more morbidity and mental health needs at global level.
Abstract: Background:The current outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus infection among humans in Wuhan (China) and its spreading around the globe is heavily impacting on the global health and mental health. Despi...
1,816 citations
TL;DR: Neil Greenberg and colleagues set out measures that healthcare managers need to put in place to protect the mental health of healthcare staff having to make morally challenging decisions.
Abstract: Neil Greenberg and colleagues set out measures that healthcare managers need to put in place to protect the mental health of healthcare staff having to make morally challenging decisions
1,309 citations
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust1, National Institute for Health Research2, University College Cork3, Warneford Hospital4, Swansea University5, Aga Khan University6, University of Glasgow7, Centre for Mental Health8, University of Bristol9, University of Peradeniya10, University of Oslo11, Medical University of Vienna12, University of Sydney13, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences14, University of Toronto15, University of Nottingham16, University of Hong Kong17
TL;DR: The promise of targeting the inflammation pathway in the management of this challenging condition is today somewhat weaker, but this might not be the last word on the potential role of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of bipolar depression.
981 citations
TL;DR: Ten years after the landmark review on health inequalities in England, coauthor Michael Marmot says the situation has become worse.
Abstract: Ten years after the landmark review on health inequalities in England, coauthor Michael Marmot says the situation has become worse
696 citations