How the COVID-19 pandemic affects people with severe mental illness

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Severe Mental Illness

NIH-funded research University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10691171

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 typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California Los Angeles NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, United States)
Project IDNIH-10691171 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe major depressive disorder.

Not a fit: Patients without a diagnosis of severe mental illness or those who were not affected by the pandemic may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Los Angeles, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Mental disordersMental health disordersPsychiatric DiseasePsychiatric Disorderpsychological disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.