White Earth Tribal Behavioral Health, P.O. Box 300, White Earth, MN, 56591, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. #9070, Dallas, TX, 75930, USA.
Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2024 Oct;26(10):499-513. doi: 10.1007/s11920-024-01525-0. Epub 2024 Aug 30.
We reviewed recent evidence regarding the impact of climate change (specifically, high ambient temperatures, heatwaves, weather-related disasters, and air pollution) on older adults' mental health. We also summarized evidence regarding other medical problems that can occur in aging adults in connection with climate change, resulting in psychiatric manifestations or influencing psychopharmacological management.
Older adults can experience anxiety, depressive, and/or posttraumatic stress symptoms, as well as sleep disturbances in the aftermath of climate disasters. Cognitive deficits may occur with exposure to air pollutants, heatwaves, or post-disaster. Individuals with major neurocognitive disorders and/or preexisting psychiatric illness have a higher risk of psychiatric hospitalizations after exposure to high temperatures and air pollution. There is a growing body of research regarding psychiatric clinical presentations associated with climate change in older adults. However, there is a paucity of evidence on management strategies. Future research should investigate culturally appropriate, cost-effective psychosocial and pharmacological interventions.
我们回顾了最近关于气候变化（具体而言，包括环境高温、热浪、与天气有关的灾害和空气污染）对老年人心理健康影响的证据。我们还总结了与气候变化相关的老年人可能出现的其他医学问题的证据，这些问题可能导致精神表现或影响精神药理学管理。
气候灾害后，老年人可能会出现焦虑、抑郁和/或创伤后应激症状以及睡眠障碍。接触空气污染物、热浪或灾害后可能会出现认知缺陷。在暴露于高温和空气污染后，有重大神经认知障碍和/或既往精神疾病的个体患精神病住院的风险更高。关于老年人与气候变化相关的精神临床表现的研究越来越多。然而，管理策略方面的证据仍然很少。未来的研究应调查文化上适当、具有成本效益的心理社会和药物干预措施。
