As defined by CLOSER, the home of longitudinal research in the UK, longitudinal datasets “track the same individuals and households over time”. Longitudinal datasets are valuable because they allow direct comparison of individuals over multiple time points across the lifespan, as well as before, during and after important personal or saudi arabia rcs data global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This broad perspective enables researchers to examine how changes in multiple factors may contribute to changes in mental health over time. As a result, longitudinal datasets play a key role in developmental psychology, and research on the development of mental health disorders.
For longitudinal datasets to be utilised to their full potential, it is important to ensure they are discoverable and accessible. Currently, there are several platforms in the United Kingdom whose work significantly aids data discoverability, such as:
Datamind: the Health Data Research UK centralised hub for mental health data. research through a range of activities, including making datasets more findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable.
The Catalogue of Mental Health Measures: an interactive online platform detailing the mental health and well-being measures included in 55 British cohort and longitudinal studies, making it easier for researchers to efficiently compare the measures used across studies. Our team at King’s College London has developed and maintained this platform.