Psychological effects of being on Big Brother: As series 20 begins, scientists warn housemates could face depression, paranoia and even panic attacks

After a five-year absence, the reality show that started it all, Big Brother, returns to our screens this weekend.

The 20th series – and the first in five years – will see a “diverse” group of strangers from “all walks of life” holed up in the new home in west London for six weeks.

ITV is rebooting the show as the “ultimate back-to-basics social experiment”, closer to the format of the first two series more than two decades ago.

Although this year’s contestants will have more psychological support than ever before, there will still be concerns about their well-being in a completely unique and strange social environment.

MailOnline spoke to psychologists – and her former Big Brother housemate from 2001 – to find out what mental health pressures the contestants will face.

Dr. Sarah Bishop, A Registered Clinical Psychologist Based in Birmingham, contestants are likely to experience anxiety, stress, loneliness, mood swings and more.

She told MailOnline: ‘Living in the Big Brother house can be a rollercoaster ride for housemates, with some psychological challenges along the way.

“Constant surveillance, feelings of isolation, and lack of privacy are all things that humans naturally find difficult to tolerate.

“Limited control over their routines and interactions can lead to frustration and anxiety.

“The pressure to perform, entertain and strategize can also impact their mental health.

“Add to that the pressure of being subjected to scrutiny and fear of judgment from both flatmates and the public, and it’s a recipe for stress and self-consciousness.

“Also on a personal level, being away from your loved ones for a long period of time can lead to feelings of homesickness and loneliness.”

Dr. Bishop added that in previous series, psychological signs related to the disease included mood swings, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, increased aggression, tears, and self-isolation.

David Wilson, professor of criminology at Birmingham City University, worked as a consultant during the fifth series of Big Brother in 2004.

But he resigned when the show’s makers ignored his professional advice against reintroducing “evicted” housemates on welfare grounds (the show’s producer went ahead with this move which led to a fight).

According to the expert specializing in aspects of prison, some contestants may face more challenges once they leave the house than when they are actually there.

He told MailOnline: ‘Obviously if a lot of people are watching they will focus on certain characters – and that external focus on them may amplify some of their mental health issues.’

“These are not real examples, but they may have had issues with bereavement, addiction or abuse in the past.

“They can keep it relatively close to themselves or with their friends, but they may not realize that everyone in the audience will know about it because they discussed it within the confines of an institution that records their every move.”

In an article for MailOnline in 2009, when the original broadcaster Channel 4 first decided to ax the show, Professor Wilson described Big Brother as a “repugnant freak show” that “fosters a climate of bullying”.

Former housemates and pundits alike have also criticized that the format of the show has become progressively worse in the ratings chase.

Former Series 17 star Laura Cartner said Big Brother “ruined her life” because she suffered from anxiety and PTSD after moving out.

After series seven, a Glasgow Caledonian University psychologist also criticized the decision to recruit contestants with Tourette’s syndrome and a history of mental illness.

Dean O’Loughlin, who came third in the second series of Big Brother in 2001, initially suffered panic attacks after entering the house and suffered from paranoia upon leaving.

He told MailOnline: ‘I had a history of panic attacks which had subsided completely a few years before I took part in the show which came back in a most startling way in the first few days of my imprisonment.

“Big Brother’s strange nature brought them back.” I was ready to end the show on the second night and had to talk to myself in the toilets.

“When I left I had extreme paranoia for the first week or so although I put that down to the fact that everyone had actually been watching me for nine weeks and people I passed in the street were looking at me.”

Dean said he felt like the “goalposts were constantly being moved” from the inside, because the people he had a relationship with were always voted out.

He also suffered from the “backstabbing behaviour” – voting for other people to leave each week – which was a key part of the show’s format.

Fortunately, the series’ producers have ramped up mental health support since the last series in 2018, which will extend beyond people leaving home, although it’s unclear how long that will last.

This year, housemates must participate in “Respect and Inclusion Training” and will have access to one-on-one mental health support sessions before, during and after the show, the show’s new Duty of Care protocols state.

Prior to filming, all housemates underwent psychological and medical assessments, which included examinations by an independent doctor and information reports from each individual’s GP.

ITV said: “The well-being of everyone involved in the making of the program is of the utmost importance and welfare protocols have been carefully considered to provide a robust assessment of suitability for participation, informed consent and support throughout the casting, filming process and beyond.”

Dr Sarah Bishop described the new duty of care protocols as a “hugely important development” that demonstrates a shift in attitudes towards mental health.

“It is a challenging journey from a psychological perspective, but with the right support and coping strategies, housemates can overcome these challenges,” she said.

Big Brother: will launch on ITV1, STV, ITV2 and ITVX on Sunday 8 October from 9pm.