Physical and mental health multimorbidity: Investigating long-term health outcomes and the role of social inequalities
Supervisors:
Dr Jean Stafford, Usher Institute (University of Edinburgh)
Dr Caroline Jackson, Usher Institute (University of Edinburgh)
Prof Bruce Guthrie, Usher Institute (University of Edinburgh)
Summary:
Mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and severe mental illness, frequently co-occur with multiple long-term physical conditions, contributing to more complex clinical needs and poorer health outcomes. Despite this, most research has examined mental and physical conditions independently. For instance, both mental health conditions and multimorbidity have shown independent associations with increased healthcare utilisation, poor cognitive outcomes and higher mortality rates.
However, the combined impact of physical and mental health multimorbidity remains under-examined. In particular, little is known about how different combinations and counts of co-occurring mental and physical conditions influence health outcomes. In addition, while there is evidence of a strong social gradient in physical-mental multimorbidity, and a high prevalence in women and younger adults, the role of social inequalities in shaping outcomes is poorly understood.
To address this gap, this PhD will use large-scale, linked population data from the UK and Sweden to investigate outcomes of physical-mental multimorbidity, with a focus on the role of social inequalities. Findings will help to inform more targeted and equitable approaches to care and prevention in physical-mental multimorbidity. The project includes international collaboration and a research visit to the Karolinska Institute, and offers training and development in multimorbidity, epidemiology and quantitative methods.