Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32707037›Full record

ArticleThe lancet. Psychiatry2020

Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal probability sample survey of the UK population.

Matthias Pierce, Holly Hope, Tamsin Ford, Stephani Hatch, Matthew Hotopf, Ann John, Evangelos Kontopantelis, Roger Webb, Simon Wessely, Sally McManus and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The lancet. Psychiatry, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1,436 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1,436citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1,436 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Trial
  6. Trial
  7. Trial
  8. Trial
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Concurrent mental health and substance use disorders among Canadian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study.Health promotion and chronic disease prevention in Canada : research, policy and practice · 2026
    Article

1,376 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Matthias PierceCentre for Women's Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Electronic address: matthias.pierce@manchester.ac.uk.
Holly HopeCentre for Women's Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Tamsin FordDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Stephani HatchDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK.
Matthew HotopfDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London.
Ann JohnPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
Evangelos KontopantelisDivision of Informatics, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Roger WebbDivision of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Sciences, and National Institute for Health Research Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Simon WesselyDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Sally McManusNational Centre for Social Research, London, UK; School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK.
Kathryn M AbelCentre for Women's Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, Manchester, UK.

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/V027751/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population mental health is of increasing global concern. We examine changes in adult mental health in the UK population before and during the lockdown.

methodsIn this secondary analysis of a national, longitudinal cohort study, households that took part in Waves 8 or 9 of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) panel, including all members aged 16 or older in April, 2020, were invited to complete the COVID-19 web survey on April 23-30, 2020. Participants who were unable to make an informed decision as a result of incapacity, or who had unknown postal addresses or addresses abroad were excluded. Mental health was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Repeated cross-sectional analyses were done to examine temporal trends. Fixed-effects regression models were fitted to identify within-person change compared with preceding trends.

findingsWaves 6-9 of the UKHLS had 53 351 participants. Eligible participants for the COVID-19 web survey were from households that took part in Waves 8 or 9, and 17 452 (41·2%) of 42 330 eligible people participated in the web survey. Population prevalence of clinically significant levels of mental distress rose from 18·9% (95% CI 17·8-20·0) in 2018-19 to 27·3% (26·3-28·2) in April, 2020, one month into UK lockdown. Mean GHQ-12 score also increased over this time, from 11·5 (95% CI 11·3-11·6) in 2018-19, to 12·6 (12·5-12·8) in April, 2020. This was 0·48 (95% CI 0·07-0·90) points higher than expected when accounting for previous upward trends between 2014 and 2018. Comparing GHQ-12 scores within individuals, adjusting for time trends and significant predictors of change, increases were greatest in 18-24-year-olds (2·69 points, 95% CI 1·89-3·48), 25-34-year-olds (1·57, 0·96-2·18), women (0·92, 0·50-1·35), and people living with young children (1·45, 0·79-2·12). People employed before the pandemic also averaged a notable increase in GHQ-12 score (0·63, 95% CI 0·20-1·06).

interpretationBy late April, 2020, mental health in the UK had deteriorated compared with pre-COVID-19 trends. 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.

fundingNone.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAge DistributionCoronavirus InfectionsCOVID-19Cross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMental DisordersMiddle AgedPandemicsPneumonia, Viral

Identifiers

PMID32707037
PMCPMC7373389

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.