When they investigated the link between these groups and somatization (physical symptoms of psychological distress), they discovered that all but the first group exhibited significant vulnerability to somatization — even the “recovery group” those who reported that their mental health improved after lockdown.

This is the first study to measure mental health before and after a second lockdown.

“The study has two major contributions,” notes Ariel University’s Prof. Menachem Ben-Ezra, who led the study.

“First, strengthening the claim that a lockdown is a double-edged sword. Lockdown prevents mass spreading of the infection at the expense of mental health,” he said.

“Second, the presentation of somatic symptoms may mask psychological vulnerabilities, namely anxiety and adjustment disorder, even among those who appear to have recovered from the stressor. This indicates that lockdown should be carefully administered given these populations’ vulnerabilities.”