OZONE! Global Warming Affects Us Mentally Too... sulogna mehta

It now seems that climate change is not only detrimental for the planet and ultimately, to our physical well being, it affects our mental health too.  Experts say that depressed and maniac people become worse with seasonal changes, while extreme climatic conditions affect people's behaviour, making them either "low" or aggressive.  Scientists also point out that micro-level mutation in our genetic constitution is possible with changes in temperature, which will manifest itself over a period of time.

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Dr. V. Pramod Kumar, superintendent of Government National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), said, "Patients suffering from clinical depression get worse in winter while the condition of those suffering from mania (displaying extremes of behaviour) deteriorate in summer.  These are also patients who show seasonally-affected disorder syndrome (SADS).  Accordingly, we have to alter the dose of medicines and vary the treatment for these patients."

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Dr D. Keshav Rao, president of Hyderabad psychiatry society, concurs with Dr Kumar that more mania cases are admitted to hospitals during summer and mood disorders and irritability are common when temperatures are extreme.  "Since dark, gloomy and cold weather leads to depression, those suffering from SADS, are subjected to photo therapy, by exposure to very bright light," says Dr Rao.

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Psychologists say that depression cases double during winter, while in temperate climates, cases of mental disturbance, mood disorders and irritability come down.  Clinical psychologist and trauma therapist Seema Hingorrani says "When it's very cold cloudy or incessantly rainy, there's usually a 40-80 per cent increase in anxiety and depression cases.

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Again, thanks to global warming, the extreme heat, especially during summer, coupled with pollution and traffic snarl, leads to more incidents of road rage, hot temper, mood swings, irritability and aggressive behaviour."

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Increase in the release of green-house gases leading to global warming has resulted in unpredictable weather conditions, untimely rains or draught......