Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: Pandemics are known to affect mental health of the general population and various at-risk groups like healthcare workers, students and people with chronic medical diseases. However, not much is known of the mental health of people with pre-existing mental illness during a pandemic. Thi...
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doaj-514a07028c9a4c47a3c88454d95458172021-06-10T04:57:59ZengElsevierBrain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health2666-35462021-01-0110100177Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysisKishen Neelam0Venu Duddu1Nnamdi Anyim2Jyothi Neelam3Shôn Lewis4The University of Manchester, 3.308 Jean McFarlane Building, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom; Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3BL, United Kingdom; Corresponding author. Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3BL, United Kingdom.East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Trust HQ, Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH, United KingdomGreater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3BL, United KingdomGreater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3BL, United Kingdom; Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Lantern Centre, Vicarage Lane, Fulwood, Preston, United KingdomThe University of Manchester, 3.308 Jean McFarlane Building, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom; Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3BL, United KingdomIntroduction: Pandemics are known to affect mental health of the general population and various at-risk groups like healthcare workers, students and people with chronic medical diseases. However, not much is known of the mental health of people with pre-existing mental illness during a pandemic. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates, whether people with pre-existing mental illness experience an increase in mental health symptoms and experience more hospitalizations during a pandemic. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted in the EMBASE, OVID-MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases to identify potentially eligible studies. Data were extracted independently and continuous data were used in calculating pooled effect sizes of standardized mean difference (SMD) using the random-effects model. Results: Of 1791 records reviewed 15 studies were included. People with pre-existing mental illness have significantly higher psychiatric symptoms, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms compared to controls during a pandemic with pooled effect sizes (SMD) of 0.593 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46 to 0.72), 0.616 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.73) and 0.597 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.80) respectively. Studies also found a reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations and utilization of psychiatric services during pandemics. Conclusion: The review highlights the need for mental health services to address the increased mental health symptoms in people with pre-existing mental illnesses during a pandemic. Future research should focus on better designed controlled studies of discrete illness groups, so as to provide a robust basis for policy makers to plan appropriate level of support and care for people with mental illness during a pandemic.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354620301423AnxietyCOVID-19Mental healthPandemicReview |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kishen Neelam Venu Duddu Nnamdi Anyim Jyothi Neelam Shôn Lewis |
spellingShingle |
Kishen Neelam Venu Duddu Nnamdi Anyim Jyothi Neelam Shôn Lewis Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health Anxiety COVID-19 Mental health Pandemic Review |
author_facet |
Kishen Neelam Venu Duddu Nnamdi Anyim Jyothi Neelam Shôn Lewis |
author_sort |
Kishen Neelam |
title |
Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_short |
Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_full |
Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_fullStr |
Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_sort |
pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health |
issn |
2666-3546 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
Introduction: Pandemics are known to affect mental health of the general population and various at-risk groups like healthcare workers, students and people with chronic medical diseases. However, not much is known of the mental health of people with pre-existing mental illness during a pandemic. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates, whether people with pre-existing mental illness experience an increase in mental health symptoms and experience more hospitalizations during a pandemic. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted in the EMBASE, OVID-MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases to identify potentially eligible studies. Data were extracted independently and continuous data were used in calculating pooled effect sizes of standardized mean difference (SMD) using the random-effects model. Results: Of 1791 records reviewed 15 studies were included. People with pre-existing mental illness have significantly higher psychiatric symptoms, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms compared to controls during a pandemic with pooled effect sizes (SMD) of 0.593 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46 to 0.72), 0.616 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.73) and 0.597 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.80) respectively. Studies also found a reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations and utilization of psychiatric services during pandemics. Conclusion: The review highlights the need for mental health services to address the increased mental health symptoms in people with pre-existing mental illnesses during a pandemic. Future research should focus on better designed controlled studies of discrete illness groups, so as to provide a robust basis for policy makers to plan appropriate level of support and care for people with mental illness during a pandemic. |
topic |
Anxiety COVID-19 Mental health Pandemic Review |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354620301423 |
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