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©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre 

Volume 5, October 2018  
www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 
 

Hina Hazrat 59 

 

Mini Review                                                                                       DOI: 10.29052/2412-3188.v4.i1.2017.59-64 

Influence of rising temperatures and heat waves on mental 

health outcomes: An alarming public health concern 
Hina Hazrat1 & Sadaf Ahmed1&2 

1Psycho-physiology research lab, Department of Physiology, University of Karachi 
2Advance Educational Institute and Research Centre 

Corresponding Author Email: hhk.hina@gmail.com 

Received 07/04/2018; Accepted 14/08/2018; Published 10/10/2018  

 

Abstract 

Background: An accumulating body of research studies have presented effects of climate 

change on human health. The current state of climate change supports the notion of elevated 

incidences of heat waves in future. The understanding of role of increasing temperatures and 

heat waves on altered mental health conditions stands crucial, in light of wide spectrum of 

effects warming climate imparts on mental health and well-being status. Methodology: 

Research studies with findings related to increasing temperatures, mental health and 

behavioural alterations, and psychopathological outcomes are highlighted in this review. 

Articles were searched using Google Scholar from the year 2005 to 2018 by entering keywords; 

increasing temperature and mental health, heat waves and mental health, heat waves and 

behavioural disorders, climate change and mental health, and, global warming and mental 

health. Studies were also selected from reference lists of the articles emerging out from these 

keywords provided. Newspaper articles and reports with details of heat waves in Pakistan are 

also included. Results: Extreme heat exposure event is found to result in adverse mental, mood 

and behavioural consequences; including anxiety, aggression, and violence. Heat waves are 

found to potentiate risk for hospital admission, also due to mental disorders. Heat-associated 

mental health alterations may be attributed to compromised thermoregulation, pre-existing 

mental illness, old age, substance abuse and prescription medications effects, and up-regulation 

in release of stress hormones. Conclusion: Keeping in view the impact of warming climate on 

mental and behavioural disorders, it appears significantly important to promote research aiming 

to decipher heat-induced mental health outcomes. In particular, studies are encouraged to be 

carried out to understand effects of increasing temperatures and heat waves on impaired mental 

health and psychological well-being state, develop heat-associated mental health mass 

awareness campaigns, and plan mental health response actions in Pakistan, which currently 

remain under-represented. 

 

Keywords 
Climate Change, Global Warming, Increasing Temperatures, Heat Waves,  

Mental Health, Behavioural Disorders 

 

Introduction 

Several studies have reported influence of 

climate change on human health (Manning 

& Clayton, 2018), which is found to play 

role in disease outbreaks/emergence, poor 

air quality generation, climate driven 

disasters enhancement, food insecurity 

state development, and physical and mental 

health impairment/alterations (Watts et al., 

2015; McMichael & Lindgren, 2011). 

Average temperature around the world is 

considered to be increasing (Hartmann et 

al., 2013), and the current state of climate 

change supports the notion of elevated 

incidences of heat waves in the future 

(McMichael et al., 2006). Moreover, a 

recent study has presented that there will be 

an increase in world’s population (48% or 

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Annals of Psychophysiology 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre 

Volume 5, October 2018  
www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 
 

Hina Hazrat 60 

 

74% versus 30% presently) experiencing 

severe heat situations ranging over 20 days 

per year as we move towards end of the 

century (Mora et al., 2017). The state of 

elevated temperatures are known to 

influence physical health, as well as mental 

health (Padhy et al., 2015).  

Increasing temperatures, heat waves and 

mental health outcomes 

Research studies suggest role of increasing 

temperatures with adverse mental health 

outcomes (Hsiang et al., 2013). Rising 

temperatures are found related to elevated 

interpersonal aggression  and interpersonal 

violence (Hsiang et al., 2013). 

Studies have presented relation between 

increasing temperatures and rise in hospital 

admissions for mental, mood and 

behavioural disorders (Trang et al., 2016), 

due to symptomatic mental disorders, 

dementia, mood disorders, stress-

associated disorders, somatoform 

disorders, psychological development 

disorders, schizophrenia, mania, neurotic 

disorders, self-injury, and intentional injury 

((Basu et al., 2017; Wang & Horton, 2015; 

Chand & Murthy, 2008; Hansen et al., 

2008).  Heat waves are found to potentiate 

risk for hospital admission due to mental 

disorders especially among elderly 

individuals (senility), men and people from 

rural communities (Trang et al., 2016; 

Hansen et al., 2008).  

Moreover, a rise in symptomatic illnesses, 

mental retardation, drug abuse and lowered 

response of helping behaviour during event 

of increasing temperatures was observed 

(Belkin & Kouchaki, 2017; Trang et al., 

2016; Antonio Bulbena, 2006).   

High temperatures are found to elevate 

aggression, suicide risk, anxiety, dementia, 

schizophrenia and depression (Lee et al., 

2018; Padhy et al., 2015). Heat-associated 

mental health consequences may be 

attributed to altered thermoregulation 

(Cusack et al., 2011), pre-existing mental 

illness condition, old age, effects of 

substance abuse, prescription medications 

and upregulation in release of stress 

hormones (Lee et al., 2018; Dodgen et al., 

2016; Simister & Cooper, 2005).  

Increasing temperatures and heat waves 

in Pakistan 

With an increase in temperature which is a 

manifestation of climate change due to 

global warming (Hartmann et al., 2013), it 

is expected that heat waves will emerge out 

more in different parts of the world, 

including Pakistan (Zahid & Rasul, 2012). 

In Mohenjo-Daro, Sindh on May 26, 2010, 

temperature of 53.5 °C (128.3 °F) was 

recorded (The Guardian, 2010). During 

June 17-24, 2015, heat wave led to death of 

over 1200 people in Karachi and during this 

heat wave period, on June 20, 2015 

maximum temperature of 44.8 °C (112.64 

°F) was recorded (Chaudhry et al., 2015). 

In May and June 2018, Pakistan 

experienced heat wave, which took lives of 

around 65 people, and temperature of 48.5 

°C (119.3 °F) was recorded in Larkana 

district (Guriro, 2018).  

Increasing temperatures, heat waves 

and, vulnerable populations 

Although climate change transduces its 

effects on everyone, but certain populations 

remain more susceptible to the impacts of 

warming climate (Habibi et al., 2016), 

which highlights potential elevated heat-

associated morbidity and mortality 

especially in these vulnerable populations 

(Bi et al., 2011). Studies have presented that 

interaction with severe heat imparts 

negative effects on health state of mentally 

ill individuals, elderly population, children, 

men, indigenous populations, overweight 

individuals, individuals with low 

socioeconomic status, and people who are 

engaged in physical activities during period 

of heat exposure (Habibi et al., 2016; Li et 

al., 2015; Ford, 2012; Bi et al., 2011; Khalaj 

et al., 2010). Moreover, studies have also 

found relation between demographic 

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Annals of Psychophysiology 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre 

Volume 5, October 2018  
www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 
 

Hina Hazrat 61 

 

changes and susceptibility to influence of 

climate change (Dodgen et al., 2016). 

Studies have shown that people with 

chronic diseases (Li et al., 2015), nervous 

system disease, circulatory system disease, 

respiratory system disease, neoplasms and 

renal disease (Khalaj et al., 2010) are 

susceptible to impact of rising temperatures 

and heat exposure. These illnesses may 

pave way to lowered adaptive capability of 

body to cope with alterations in the 

environment and thus impair maintenance 

of core temperature of the body during 

warm milieu (Kenny et al., 2010). Studies 

have shown that mental health of 

individuals from marginalized 

communities is more prone to influence of 

climate change (Manning & Clayton, 

2018). Also, mental health of indigenous 

populations and women  is presented to be 

susceptible to the climate change effects 

(Manning & Clayton, 2018). 

 

Table 1: Summary of altered mental and behavioural outcomes due to increased 

temperature/heat exposure/heat waves 

 

Mental and Behavioural Outcomes Reference(s) 

Aggression  (Padhy et al., 2015) 

Anxiety  (Lee et al., 2018) 

Dementia  (Lee et al., 2018; Hansen et al., 2008) 

Depression  (Lee et al., 2018) 

Drug abuse  (Antonio Bulbena, 2006) 

Intentional injury  (Basu et al., 2017) 

Interpersonal aggression  (Hsiang et al., 2013) 

Interpersonal violence  (Carleton & Hsiang, 2016; Hsiang et al., 

2013) 

Low helping behaviour  (Belkin & Kouchaki, 2017) 

Mania  (Wang & Horton, 2015; Chand & Murthy, 

2008) 

Mental retardation  (Trang et al., 2016) 

Mood disorders  (Hansen et al., 2008) 

Neurotic disorders  (Wang & Horton, 2015; Chand & Murthy, 

2008; Hansen et al., 2008) 

Psychological development disorders  (Hansen et al., 2008) 

Schizophrenia  (Lee et al., 2018; Wang & Horton, 2015; 

Chand & Murthy, 2008) 

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Annals of Psychophysiology 
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Volume 5, October 2018  
www.aeirc-edu.com 

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Self-injury/Suicide  (Thompson et al., 2018; Basu et al., 2017; 

Padhy et al., 2015; Lin et al., 2008) 

Somatoform disorders  (Hansen et al., 2008) 

Stress-associated disorders  (Hansen et al., 2008) 

Symptomatic mental disorders  (Hansen et al., 2008) 

Violence  (Carleton & Hsiang, 2016; Hsiang et al., 

2013) 

 

Recommendations  

Rising temperatures and heat waves pose a 

substantial negative influence on human 

health (Campbell et al., 2018) and in view 

of this mass awareness campaigns planning 

and implementation, health facilities access 

enhancement, and heat waves-related early 

warning schemes development are 

suggested (Bakhsh et al., 2018; Li et al., 

2015).  

The current gaps in knowledge regarding 

high temperatures influence on mental 

health (Thompson et al., 2018) should be 

filled by carrying out studies that uncover 

rising temperatures impact on 

psychological, mental and behavioural 

outcomes, to contribute to better 

understanding of their association and help 

strategize concrete plans for tackling 

mental health burden in face of predicted 

increase in heat waves in the future. 

Moreover, efforts should be made to 

uncover role of elevating temperatures and 

heat waves on mental health outcomes of 

vulnerable populations (Bi et al., 2011).  

Conclusion 

Increasing temperatures which is a 

phenomenon of climate change presents 

threat to physical, as well as mental health. 

Keeping in view the effects of warming 

climate on mental health outcomes, it 

stands important to promote research 

aiming to decipher environmental heat-

induced mental health alterations, to further 

contribute to build mental health response 

plans, and reduce heat mediated mental 

illness-related morbidity and mortality. 

Studies are encouraged to be carried out to 

understand heat induced effects on mental 

health and psychological well-being, in 

Pakistan. 

Conflict of Interest 

None. 

Acknowledgment 

We would like to thank all researchers for 

their valuable contributions in this field.   

Funding  

None.  

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