The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental and psychosocial functioning, quality of life, and recovery in adults with severe mental illness: Findings from Dutch longitudinal cohorts
Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted global mental health, with individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) being particularly vulnerable. Research on changes in psychiatric symptoms during this pandemic has yielded inconsistent results, often due to ind...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933825100394/type/journal_article |
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| Summary: | Abstract
Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted global mental health, with individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) being particularly vulnerable. Research on changes in psychiatric symptoms during this pandemic has yielded inconsistent results, often due to individual heterogeneity and a limited focus on broader outcomes such as psychosocial functioning, societal and personal recovery, and quality of life (QoL). Furthermore, long-term effects remain underexplored. This longitudinal cohort study aimed to assess the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mental and psychosocial functioning, QoL, and recovery in individuals with SMI, and to explore individual and treatment characteristics associated with outcome changes.
Methods
Two cohorts were included, involving adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with DSM-5 disorders and experiencing long-term impairments. Participants received care between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023. Outcomes included the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales, the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life, and the Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter. Changes were analyzed across five pandemic periods using linear mixed models.
Results
Improvements in mental and psychosocial functioning, QoL, and recovery were observed over time, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic period. However, progress was slower during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. No individual or treatment characteristics were significantly linked to changes in outcomes.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had a minimal negative impact on individuals with SMI. This may be due to the marginal negative effects of the pandemic on this population, or the mitigating role of stabilizing factors within the current Dutch care models.
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| ISSN: | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |