Psychological Distress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adults in the United Kingdom Based on Coordinated Analyses of 11 Longitudinal Studies

• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7629
• Publication Date: 2022-04-22T15:34:53Z
• Authors: Kishan Patel; Elaine Robertson; Alex S. F. Kwong; Gareth J. Griffith; Kathryn Willan; Michael J. Green; Giorgio Di Gessa; Charlotte F. Huggins; Eoin McElroy; Ellen J. Thompson; Jane Maddock; Claire L. Niedzwiedz; Morag Henderson; Marcus Richards; Andrew Steptoe; George B. Ploubidis; Bettina Moltrecht; Charlotte Booth; Emla Fitzsimons; Richard Silverwood; Praveetha Patalay; David Porteous; Srinivasa Vittal ...
• Keywords: Pandemic; Longitudinal Study; Depression

<h3>Importance</h3> How population mental health has evolved across the COVID-19 pandemic under varied lockdown measures is poorly understood, and consequences for inequalities are unclear. <h3>Objective</h3> To investigate changes in sociodemographic from before first year of 11 longitudinal studies. <h3>Design, Setting, Participants</h3> This cohort study included adult participants UK population-based studies with prepandemic psychological distress. Analyses were coordinated these studies, estimates pooled. Data collected 2006 to 2021. <h3>Exposures</h3> Trends prevalence poor assessed period (time 0 [TP 0]) at 3 TPs: 1, initial (March June 2020); 2, easing restrictions (July October 3, a subsequent (November 2020 March 2021). stratified by sex, race ethnicity, education, age, country. <h3>Main Outcomes Measures</h3> Multilevel regression was used examine distress pandemic. Psychological using 12-item General Health Questionnaire, Kessler 6, 9-item Malaise Inventory, Short Mood Feelings 8-item or Patient Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Centre Epidemiological Studies–Depression different <h3>Results</h3> In total, 49 993 (12 323 [24.6%] aged 55-64 years; 32 741 [61.2%] women; 4960 [8.7%] racial ethnic minority) analyzed. Across deteriorated scores all periods, but there considerable heterogeneity study-specific estimated effect sizes (pooled estimate TP 1: standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.15; 95% CI, 0.06-0.25; 2: SMD, 0.18; 0.09-0.27; 3: 0.21; 0.10-0.32). Changes higher women (TP 0.23; 0.11, 0.35) than men 0.16; 0.06-0.26) lower individuals below–degree level education (SMD, 0.06-0.30) compared those who held degrees 0.26; 0.14-0.38). Increased most prominent among adults 25 34 years 0.49; 0.14-0.84) 35 44 0.35; 0.10-0.60) other age groups. No evidence differing ethnicity country observed. <h3>Conclusions Relevance</h3> this study, substantial deterioration seen during did not reverse when lifted, sustained worsening observed period. Mental declines have been unequal population, women, degrees, more affected