Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Pandemics are known to affect mental health of the general population and various at-risk groups like healthcare workers, students and people with chronic medical diseases. However, not much is known of the mental health of people with pre-existing mental illness during a pandemic. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates, whether people with pre-existing mental illness experience an increase in mental health symptoms and experience more hospitalizations during a pandemic.

Materials and methods

A systematic search was conducted in the EMBASE, OVID-MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases to identify potentially eligible studies. Data were extracted independently and continuous data were used in calculating pooled effect sizes of standardized mean difference (

SUBMITTER: Neelam K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7683956 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature