Climate Change and Psychiatry

Psychiatric disease and symptoms will be dramatically impacted by climate changes resulting from global warming. Direct effects of climate change such as extreme heat and heat waves; drought; fires; air pollution; extreme weather; habitat, species, and crop loss; and changes in infectious disease can contribute to neurological and psychiatric symptoms and also to various forms of emotional distress. Social consequences of global warming such as forced migration, civic conflict, economic instability, and environmental injustice are major determinants of mental health. This chapter describes the impacts of climate change on the brain and mind from all of these perspectives: neurophysiological, psychological, and socio-environmental. Psychiatric conditions that will be most affected include developmental disorders, dementia, suicide, violence, and psychiatric consequences of stroke and encephalitis. Climate and weather-related distress worsen population mental health across many psychological domains, raising anxiety, grief, anger, and other emotions that are a focus of clinical attention. This chapter clarifies the roles psychiatrists can take in the public health response to climate change,Climate changedefinition and the clinical interventions that can improve outcomes, including psychotherapy tools, recommendations for health practices, and measures to improve health through improved sustainability for patients and the psychiatric profession.