Psychological distress among people with probable COVID-19 infection: analysis of the UK Household Longitudinal Study

Niedzwiedz, C. , Benzeval, M., Hainey, K., Leyland, A. and Katikireddi, V. (2021) Psychological distress among people with probable COVID-19 infection: analysis of the UK Household Longitudinal Study. BJPsych Open, 7(3), e104. (doi: 10.1192/bjo.2021.63) (PMID:34001295) (PMCID:PMC8134894)

Abstract

Studies exploring the longer-term effects of experiencing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on mental health are lacking. We explored the relationship between reporting probable COVID-19 symptoms in April 2020 and psychological distress (measured using the General Health Questionnaire) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 months later. Data were taken from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, a nationally representative household panel survey of UK adults. Elevated levels of psychological distress were found up to 7 months after probable COVID-19, compared with participants with no likely infection. Associations were stronger among younger age groups and men. Further research into the psychological sequalae of COVID-19 is urgently needed.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Katikireddi, Professor Vittal and Hainey, Dr Kirsten and Leyland, Professor Alastair and Niedzwiedz, Dr Claire and Benzeval, Dr Michaela
• Authors: Niedzwiedz, C., Benzeval, M., Hainey, K., Leyland, A., and Katikireddi, V.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: BJPsych Open
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 2056-4724
• ISSN (Online): 2056-4724
• Published Online: 18 May 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s), 2021
• First Published: First published in BJPsych Open 7(3): e104
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
304823002	1	Inequalities in health	Alastair Leyland	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_00022/2	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
72765	1	Measuring and Analysing Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health	Alastair Leyland	Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)	SPHSU13	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
302182		A machine learning approach to understanding comorbidity between mental and physical health conditions	Claire Niedzwiedz	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MR/R024774/1	SHW - Public Health
172690		Understanding the impacts of welfare policy on health: A novel data linkage study	Srinivasa Katikireddi	Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)	SCAF/15/02	SHW - Public Health