Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33070797›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2020

Anxiety, depression, traumatic stress and COVID-19-related anxiety in the UK general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Shevlin, Orla McBride, Jamie Murphy, Jilly Gibson Miller, Todd K Hartman, Liat Levita, Liam Mason, Anton P Martinez, Ryan McKay, Thomas V A Stocks and 4 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BJPsych open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 353 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
353citing papers in PubMed, 7 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

353 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  7. Anxiety Linked to COVID-19: A Systematic Review Comparing Anxiety Rates in Different Populations.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
    Pooled it
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  15. BJPsych open · 2025
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293 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Mark ShevlinUlster University, Northern Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6262-5223
Orla McBrideUlster University, Northern Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3399-9466
Jamie MurphyUlster University, Northern Ireland.
Jilly Gibson MillerUniversity of Sheffield, England.
Todd K HartmanUniversity of Sheffield, England.
Liat LevitaUniversity of Sheffield, England.
Liam MasonUniversity College London, England.
Anton P MartinezUniversity of Sheffield, England.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7318-1020
Ryan McKayRoyal Holloway, University of London, England.
Thomas V A StocksUniversity of Sheffield, England.
Kate M BennettLiverpool University, England.
Philip HylandMaynooth University, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9574-7128
Thanos KaratziasEdinburgh Napier University, Scotland.
Richard P BentallUniversity of Sheffield and Liverpool University, England.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented global crisis, necessitating drastic changes to living conditions, social life, personal freedom and economic activity. No study has yet examined the presence of psychiatric symptoms in the UK population under similar conditions.

aimsWe investigated the prevalence of COVID-19-related anxiety, generalised anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms in the UK population during an early phase of the pandemic, and estimated associations with variables likely to influence these symptoms.

methodBetween 23 and 28 March 2020, a quota sample of 2025 UK adults aged 18 years and older, stratified by age, gender and household income, was recruited by online survey company Qualtrics. Participants completed standardised measures of depression, generalised anxiety and trauma symptoms relating to the pandemic. Bivariate and multivariate associations were calculated for demographic and health-related variables.

resultsHigher levels of anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms were reported compared with previous population studies, but not dramatically so. Anxiety or depression and trauma symptoms were predicted by young age, presence of children in the home, and high estimates of personal risk. Anxiety and depression were also predicted by low income, loss of income and pre-existing health conditions in self and others. Specific anxiety about COVID-19 was greater in older participants.

conclusionsThis study showed a modest increase in the prevalence of mental health problems in the early stages of the pandemic, and these problems were predicted by several specific COVID-related variables. Further similar surveys, particularly of those with children at home, are required as the pandemic progresses.

Indexed as

anxietyCOVID-19 pandemicdepressiontraumatic stressUK general population survey

Identifiers

PMID33070797
PMCPMC7573460

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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.