The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and functional outcomes in Veterans with psychosis or recent homelessness: A 15-month longitudinal study

Jonathan K Wynn; Amanda McCleery; Derek M Novacek; Eric A Reavis; Damla Senturk; Catherine A Sugar; Jack Tsai; Michael F Green

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0273579

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and functional outcomes in Veterans with psychosis or recent homelessness: A 15-month longitudinal study

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and functional outcomes in Veterans with psychosis or recent homelessness: A 15-month longitudinal study

Jonathan K Wynn, Amanda McCleery, Derek M Novacek, Eric A Reavis, Damla Senturk, Catherine A Sugar, Jack Tsai and Michael F Green

PloS one, Vol.17(8), p.e0273579

08/24/2022

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273579

PMCID: PMC9401176

PMID: 36001641

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented effects on mental health and community functioning. Negative effects related to disruption of individuals' social connections may have been more severe for those who had tenuous social connections prior to the pandemic. Veterans who have recently experienced homelessness (RHV) or have a psychotic disorder (PSY) are considered particularly vulnerable because many had poor social connections prior to the pandemic. We conducted a 15-month longitudinal study between May 2020 -July 2021 assessing clinical (e.g., depression, anxiety) and community (e.g., social functioning, work functioning) outcomes. Eighty-one PSY, 76 RHV, and 74 Veteran controls (CTL) were interviewed over 5 assessment periods. We assessed changes in mental health and community functioning trajectories relative to pre-pandemic retrospective ratings and examined group differences in these trajectories. All groups had significantly increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and concerns with contamination at the onset of the pandemic. However, RHV and PSY showed faster returns to their baseline levels compared to CTL, who took nearly 15 months to return to baseline. With regards to functioning, both RHV and PSY, but not CTL, had significant improvements in family and social networks over time. Work functioning worsened over time only in PSY, and independent living increased over time in both RHV and PSY but not CTL. These results reveal that vulnerable Veterans with access to VA mental health and case management services exhibited lower negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and community functioning than expected.

Mental Health

Veterans

Care and treatment

Homelessness

Psychological aspects

Details

Title: Subtitle: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and functional outcomes in Veterans with psychosis or recent homelessness: A 15-month longitudinal study
Creators: Jonathan K Wynn
Amanda McCleery
Derek M Novacek
Eric A Reavis
Damla Senturk
Catherine A Sugar
Jack Tsai
Michael F Green
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PloS one, Vol.17(8), p.e0273579
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273579
PMID: 36001641
PMCID: PMC9401176
NLM abbreviation: PLoS One
ISSN: 1932-6203
eISSN: 1932-6203
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Number of pages: e0273579
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000738, name: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, award: D1875-F; name: National Center on Homelessness among Veterans
Language: English
Date published: 08/24/2022
Description audience: Academic
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984285560702771

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