TY - JOUR

T1 - The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in individuals with pre-existing mental illness

AU - Lewis, Katie J.S.

AU - Lewis, Catrin

AU - Roberts, Alice

AU - Richards, Natalie A.

AU - Evison, Claudia

AU - Pearce, Holly A.

AU - LLoyd, Keith

AU - Meudell, Alan

AU - Edwards, Bethan M.

AU - Robinson, Catherine

AU - Poole, Rob

AU - John, Ann

AU - Bisson, Jonathan I.

AU - Jones, Ian

N1 - No embargo at publication

PY - 2022/3

Y1 - 2022/3

N2 - BackgroundThere is evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected mental health, but most studies have been conducted in the general population.AimsTo identify factors associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with pre-existing mental illness.MethodParticipants (N = 2869, 78% women, ages 18–94 years) from a UK cohort (the National Centre for Mental Health) with a history of mental illness completed a cross-sectional online survey in June to August 2020. Mental health assessments were the GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression) and WHO-5 (well-being) questionnaires, and a self-report question on whether their mental health had changed during the pandemic. Regressions examined associations between mental health outcomes and hypothesised risk factors. Secondary analyses examined associations between specific mental health diagnoses and mental health.ResultsA total of 60% of participants reported that mental health had worsened during the pandemic. Younger age, difficulty accessing mental health services, low income, income affected by COVID-19, worry about COVID-19, reduced sleep and increased alcohol/drug use were associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms and reduced well-being. Feeling socially supported by friends/family/services was associated with better mental health and well-being. Participants with a history of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or eating disorder were more likely to report that mental health had worsened during the pandemic than individuals without a history of these diagnoses.ConclusionsWe identified factors associated with worse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with pre-existing mental illness, in addition to specific groups potentially at elevated risk of poor mental health during the pandemic.

AB - BackgroundThere is evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected mental health, but most studies have been conducted in the general population.AimsTo identify factors associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with pre-existing mental illness.MethodParticipants (N = 2869, 78% women, ages 18–94 years) from a UK cohort (the National Centre for Mental Health) with a history of mental illness completed a cross-sectional online survey in June to August 2020. Mental health assessments were the GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression) and WHO-5 (well-being) questionnaires, and a self-report question on whether their mental health had changed during the pandemic. Regressions examined associations between mental health outcomes and hypothesised risk factors. Secondary analyses examined associations between specific mental health diagnoses and mental health.ResultsA total of 60% of participants reported that mental health had worsened during the pandemic. Younger age, difficulty accessing mental health services, low income, income affected by COVID-19, worry about COVID-19, reduced sleep and increased alcohol/drug use were associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms and reduced well-being. Feeling socially supported by friends/family/services was associated with better mental health and well-being. Participants with a history of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or eating disorder were more likely to report that mental health had worsened during the pandemic than individuals without a history of these diagnoses.ConclusionsWe identified factors associated with worse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with pre-existing mental illness, in addition to specific groups potentially at elevated risk of poor mental health during the pandemic.

KW - COVID-19

KW - depression

KW - anxiety disorders

KW - pre-existing mental illness

KW - Post-traumatic stress disorder

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.25

DO - https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.25

M3 - Article

C2 - 35249586

VL - 8

JO - BJPsych open

JF - BJPsych open

SN - 2056-4724

IS - 2

M1 - e59

ER -