The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine on people with SMI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine on people with Severe Mental Illness (SMIs) in Northern Ireland; an examination of prescribed psychotropic medication and general mortality between Census 2011 and 2021
IRAS ID
299845
Contact name
Gerry Leavey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
From March 2020 people’s lives, wider society and health care systems have all been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (WHO, 2020). Current evidence suggests that the pandemic has more severely impacted on people with prior mental health problems. People with severe mental illness (SMI) (including schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and major depressive disorder) experience considerable social exclusion, poor physical health and die up to 20 years earlier than the general population. They are vulnerable to conditions such as diabetes (T2), cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke and cancers, often due to poor diet, smoking, and low exercise. More generally the pandemic and subsequent lockdown may have exacerbated their physical and mental health. Many people with SMI live alone or in shared community residential settings, and the closure of community-based rehabilitation centres during the pandemic and the absence of community activities is likely to increase their sense of isolation and loneliness, leading to deterioration of mental health. Moreover, they will have had limited access to routine health care including community and hospital psychiatric services and monitoring.
This study will assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine on people with SMI. We will also assess mortality in this population over the same period.
We will examine (1) changes in psychotropic medication, prescribed to people with SMI over the pandemic period (Mar 2020 – June 2021) compared to a pre-COVID-19 period (Mar 2018-June 2019); (2) mortality outcomes for this population over the same period.
Note: COVID-19 mortality itself is not of specific interest here. What is at issue is the impact of the pandemic on those with SMI, part of which includes mortality outcomes, and changes to prescribing patterns over the pandemic period.
This study will provide invaluable information about the impact of the pandemic on people with SMI, the clinical response and future policy.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
21/HSC/0008
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion