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. 2021 May-Jun:70:124-133.
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.03.006. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Mental disorder prevalence among populations impacted by coronavirus pandemics: A multilevel meta-analytic study of COVID-19, MERS & SARS

Matt Boden  1 , Nichole Cohen  2 , Jessilyn M Froelich  3 , Katherine J Hoggatt  4 , Hoda S Abdel Magid  5 , Swapandeep S Mushiana  6
Affiliations

Mental disorder prevalence among populations impacted by coronavirus pandemics: A multilevel meta-analytic study of COVID-19, MERS & SARS

Matt Boden et al. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2021 May-Jun.

Abstract

Objective: Through a systematic review and meta-analysis of research on COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) pandemics, we investigated whether mental disorder prevalence: (a) was elevated among populations impacted by coronavirus pandemics (relative to unselected populations reported in the literature), and (b) varied by disorder (undifferentiated psychiatric morbidity, anxiety, depressive, posttraumatic stress disorders [PTSD]) and impacted population (community, infected/recovered, healthcare provider, quarantined).

Method: From 68 publications (N = 87,586 participants), 808 estimates were included in a series of multilevel meta-analyses/regressions including random effects to account for estimates nested within studies.

Results: Median summary point prevalence estimates varied by disorder and population. Psychiatric morbidity (20-56%), PTSD (10-26%) and depression (9-27%) were most prevalent in most populations. The highest prevalence of each disorder was found among infected/recovered adults (18-56%), followed by healthcare providers (11-28%) and community adults (11-20%). Prevalence estimates were often notably higher than reported for unselected samples. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that overall prevalence estimates moderately varied by pandemic, study location, and mental disorder measure type.

Conclusion: Coronavirus pandemics are associated with multiple mental disorders in several impacted populations. Needed are investigations of causal links between specific pandemic-related stressors, threats, and traumas and mental disorders.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Depression; Healthcare provider; Mental health; PTSD; Pandemic.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study screening, selection, coding and analysis.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Summary point prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals grouped by disorder (Panel A) and population (Panel B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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