# Most-cited Psychology papers of 2021, with free PDFs

The 25 most-cited Psychology research papers published in 2021, ranked by citations in OpenAlex, with their original abstracts and free PDFs where available.

1. [Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3203310594) · 5,418 citations
2. [Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide: large-scale meta-analysis of 192 epidemiological studies](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3164324796) · 3,794 citations · Free PDF
3. [Global Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents During COVID-19](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3190876559) · 2,788 citations
4. [Global prevalence of depression and elevated depressive symptoms among adolescents: A systematic review and meta‐analysis](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3203726726) · 1,491 citations
5. [Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3156937150) · 1,391 citations
6. [Network analysis of multivariate data in psychological science](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3195599406) · 1,351 citations · Free PDF
7. [Nonverbal overload: A theoretical argument for the causes of Zoom fatigue.](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3130610582) · 1,198 citations
8. [The growing field of digital psychiatry: current evidence and the future of apps, social media, chatbots, and virtual reality](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3197232629) · 1,172 citations
9. [Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3203364067) · 1,085 citations
10. [Barriers to and Facilitators of User Engagement With Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3128534511) · 1,065 citations
11. [Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life and mental health in children and adolescents in Germany](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3122397547) · 1,035 citations · Free PDF
12. [The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on child and adolescent mental health: systematic review](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3188471381) · 1,029 citations · Free PDF
13. [Nurses' burnout and associated risk factors during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta‐analysis](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3147264347) · 996 citations
14. [MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3160990818) · 994 citations · Free PDF
15. [Student Motivation and Associated Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis From Self-Determination Theory](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3129603262) · 982 citations
16. [Prioritizing the Mental Health and Well-Being of Healthcare Workers: An Urgent Global Public Health Priority](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3157680454) · 974 citations · Free PDF
17. [Review: Mental health impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on children and youth – a systematic review](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3197316448) · 956 citations
18. [A rapid review of the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers: implications for supporting psychological well-being](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3119259386) · 945 citations · Free PDF
19. [Revealing the theoretical basis of gamification: A systematic review and analysis of theory in research on gamification, serious games and game-based learning](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3191036075) · 944 citations
20. [Making Learning Fun : A Taxonomy of Intrinsic Motivations for Learning](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3199277690) · 910 citations
21. [Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst COVID-19 and Past Pandemics: A Rapid Systematic Review](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3134099070) · 903 citations · Free PDF
22. [Psychological impacts from COVID-19 among university students: Risk factors across seven states in the United States](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3118613563) · 899 citations
23. [Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3123322472) · 861 citations · Free PDF
24. [Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in Adolescents: A Systematic Review](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3134683097) · 858 citations · Free PDF
25. [The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns: a review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies and natural experiments](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W3119512063) · 847 citations · Free PDF

Canonical page: https://nerdi.pages.dev/papers/psychology/most-cited-2021