People with previous mental health problems are more severely affected during the pandemic

According to a new study co-led by researchers at UCL, people who had higher levels of depression or anxiety before the pandemic were more severely affected by disruptions to employment and health care during the pandemic.

The study, published in The British Journal of Psychiatry and funded by UKRI, examined data from 59,482 people interviewed regularly in 12 ongoing longitudinal studies in England. It found that people whose survey responses before the pandemic suggested higher levels of symptoms of anxiety and depression were 24% more likely to have experienced delays in medical procedures, 12% more likely to lose their jobs and 33% more likely to have been disrupted. prescriptions or medications during the first eight to 10 months of the pandemic than those with average levels of symptoms of anxiety and depression.

According to the study, people with more severe symptoms of depression or anxiety experienced a much higher likelihood of disruption in employment, income, and health care.

Dr Praveetha Patalay (UCL), lead author of the article, said: “Our results underscore that the broader health and economic impacts of the pandemic have been disproportionately felt by people with mental health problems, resulting in potentially worsening longer-term outcomes, even post-pandemic, for those already suffering from poor mental health. “

Professor Nishi Chaturvedi (MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Aging at UCL), who is co-leading the national core study Covid-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing, said: “Anxiety and the depression experienced by study participants went beyond mental illness. health reported to general practitioners and health services. They are a largely hidden group of people who are vulnerable to the potentially lasting health and socio-economic consequences of the pandemic. “

Lead author Dr Giorgio Di Gessa (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Healthcare) said: “Policymakers should take these findings into account when providing future healthcare and support. economic, because failing to address these disruptions risks worsening health inequalities. Special care should be taken by pharmacists and primary care staff to ensure that people with mental health issues do not miss appointments, procedures and prescriptions.

It is also important to note that pre-pandemic psychological distress was generally more common among women, younger generations, ethnic minorities and less skilled people, which means that the overall impact of the disruption on these groups is greater. . “

Dr Giorgio Di Gessa, lead author of the study, Institute of Epidemiology & Healthcare, University College of London

Lead author Dr Michael Green (University of Glasgow) said: “During the pandemic, many people lost their jobs or income and faced healthcare disruptions. * Our study shows that this disturbance was particularly likely to affect people with prior mental health disorders.

“We need to make sure that health care and support in times of economic hardship is not too difficult to access for these vulnerable people, especially as existing economic supports in the event of a pandemic such as leave are being cut. “

The work was carried out as part of the COVID-19 National Longitudinal Health and Wellness Baseline Study, led by researchers at UCL and funded by UKRI. The study involved researchers from UCL, King’s College London, University of Glasgow, University of Leicester, University of Edinburgh and University of Bristol.

In each of the longitudinal studies, respondents responded to questionnaires designed to assess mental health about three years before the pandemic on average. They then reported on the disruption they experienced between March and December of last year.

The researchers compared the disturbances experienced by people whose responses showed “average” levels of anxiety and depression to disturbances affecting people who were more anxious and depressed than average, whether they had been clinically diagnosed or were seeking treatment. treatment for mental illness.

The research team looked at the disruptions of the pandemic in three areas: health care (access to drugs, procedures or surgeries, and appointments); economic activity (employment, income or hours of work); and housing (change of address or household composition). They found that people with previous mental health issues were more likely to face economic and health disruption, but did not have a greater likelihood of housing disruption.

Professor Chaturvedi added: “UKRI support has enabled 12 longitudinal cohort studies to collaborate, allowing us to answer critical questions related to the pandemic that could not be answered otherwise. “