CoMpsyKids: Impact of COVID-19 related interventions on the mental health of children and adolescents in Lower Saxony
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Falk Hoffmann
Research field
- Mental health of children and adolescents and their families
Who is involved?
- Prof. Dr. Falk Hoffmann (Project leader, UOL)
- Dr. Michael Dörks (UOL)
- Dr. Kathrin Jobski (UOL)
- Prof. Dr. Luise Poustka (UMG)
- Dr. Jona T. Stahmeyer (AOK)
What is the aim?
Research is still needed on how COVID-19 related non-pharmacological interventions affected the mental health of children and adolescents. Therefore, aims of this project are to examine the development of mental illness in children and adolescents and their treatment during the pandemic in Lower Saxony, to put these results in an international context and to develop recommendations to promote mental health in this group. Using claims data of the AOK Lower Saxony over the years 2018-2022 of persons aged 0-17 years, trends in the prevalence of depressive disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia or anxiety disorders will be examined as well as the treatment with psychotropic drugs such as antidepressants. The influence of socioeconomic differences will be addressed using the German Index of Multiple Deprivation. In a next step, literature examining the effects of COVID-19 interventions on child and adolescent mental health will be systematically reviewed to place the results of the claims data analysis in a broader national and international context. Based on this, recommendations will be developed to identify particularly vulnerable groups of children and adolescents. Furthermore, the transferability of internationally used instruments, for example to reduce potential barriers with respect to the utilization of health care services, will be investigated. The innovative and interdisciplinary cooperation between the two university sites combines the methodological and clinical expertise required for this research project.