SynthesisScientific reports2021
Global prevalence of mental health issues among the general population during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 337 papers, 23 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
337 citing papers in PubMed, 23 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Feasibility and Effectiveness of Portable/Remote Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback Training in Treating Stress and Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review.Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback · 2026Pooled it
- Postnatal maternal mental health-related hospitalisation and its association with adverse child health and maltreatment outcomes: narrative review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction, Depression, Stress, and Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026Pooled it
- The Influence of Psychological Stress and Stress-Related Disorders in the Treatment Outcome of Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of clinical periodontology · 2025Pooled it
- Depression and anxiety in empty nose syndrome: A systematic review and Meta-analysis.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025Pooled it
- The prevalence of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: an umbrella review.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Neuroimaging Insights into the Public Health Burden of Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review of Electroencephalography-Based Cognitive Biomarkers.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- An umbrella review of the prevalence of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: Call to action for post-COVID-19 at the global level.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Common mental disorders and associated factors among adults after COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC psychiatry · 2024Pooled it
- Estimation of the prevalence of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: A meta-analysis of meta-analyses.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Endocannabinoids and Stress-Related Neurospsychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Basal Concentrations and Response to Acute Psychosocial Stress.Cannabis and cannabinoid research · 2024Pooled it
- Changes in Sleep Duration and Sleep Timing in the General Population from before to during the First COVID-19 Lockdown: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Pooled it
- The global prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder among patients coping with Post COVID-19 syndrome (long COVID): a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC psychiatry · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of pharmacogenomic-guided antidepressant prescribing in patients with depression: an umbrella review and updated meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Does insomnia treatment prevent depression?Sleep · 2023Pooled it
- The prevalence of probable mental health disorders among hospital healthcare workers during COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of affective disorders · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
277 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
To provide a contemporary global prevalence of mental health issues among the general population amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We searched electronic databases, preprint databases, grey literature, and unpublished studies from January 1, 2020, to June 16, 2020 (updated on July 11, 2020), with no language restrictions. Observational studies using validated measurement tools and reporting data on mental health issues among the general population were screened to identify all relevant studies. We have included information from 32 different countries and 398,771 participants. The pooled prevalence of mental health issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic varied widely across countries and regions and was higher than previous reports before the COVID-19 outbreak began. The global prevalence estimate was 28.0% for depression; 26.9% for anxiety; 24.1% for post-traumatic stress symptoms; 36.5% for stress; 50.0% for psychological distress; and 27.6% for sleep problems. Data are limited for other aspects of mental health issues. Our findings highlight the disparities between countries in terms of the poverty impacts of COVID-19, preparedness of countries to respond, and economic vulnerabilities that impact the prevalence of mental health problems. Research on the social and economic burden is needed to better manage mental health problems during and after epidemics or pandemics. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD 42020177120.
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