How the COVID-19 pandemic affects people with severe mental illness
Official title: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Severe Mental Illness
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10691171 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people with serious mental health conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and it’s for those who want to understand how their experiences during this time may have changed their thinking and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 14, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $3,072,053 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1MH133426-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10691171 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe major depressive disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of severe mental illness or those who were not affected by the pandemic may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It aims to understand how the pandemic and related factors have impacted their brain function and behavior. The study will involve re-assessing participants from previous studies in Colombia to gather data on their mental health and cognitive performance during and after the pandemic. By comparing individuals with severe mental illness to control groups, the research seeks to identify specific outcomes and predictors of mental health changes due to the pandemic.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for individuals with severe mental illness affected by the pandemic.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on the general impact of COVID-19 on mental health, this specific focus on severe mental illness is relatively novel and underexplored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freimer, Nelson B. — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Freimer, Nelson B.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.