Heat Waves and Wildfires for the Practicing Psychiatrist: What you need to know to protect your patients and community-Handouts: Slides

Handouts: Slides

Pdf Summary

"Heat Waves for the Practicing Psychiatrist: What you need to know to protect your patients and community" is an educational resource that provides information to psychiatrists about heat waves and their impact on mental health. The document is divided into several parts, each focusing on different aspects of the topic.<br /><br />Part I: Heat This Summer<br />This section highlights the increasing global surface temperatures and provides data on recent heat waves experienced in different countries. It also discusses the disproportionate heat-related risks faced by certain communities, such as African Americans and Hispanics, due to environmental injustice.<br /><br />Part II: Heat Physiology for Psychiatrists<br />Here, the document explains the thermoregulatory system of the human body and how it responds to high temperatures. It outlines the various mechanisms involved in heat production and heat release. Additionally, it emphasizes the impact of psychiatric medications and mental illnesses on the body's temperature response.<br /><br />Part III: The Relationship between Temperature and Psychiatric Diagnoses and Symptoms<br />This section explores the relationship between temperature and various psychiatric disorders. It discusses the impact of temperature on symptoms and diagnoses such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and suicide. It also highlights the correlation between temperature and violent crime.<br /><br />Part IV: Psychiatric Morbidity and Mortality from Heat<br />Here, the document focuses on the increased risks of heat-related morbidity and mortality among psychiatric patients. It discusses the impact of psychiatric medications on heat risk and highlights the risk factors that contribute to heat-related death among this group.<br /><br />Part V: Assessment and Treatment of Heat Illness<br />The final section provides recommendations for assessing and treating heat-related illnesses. It defines different heat illnesses and outlines the interventions and precautions necessary to prevent and manage heat exhaustion and heat stroke.<br /><br />The document concludes with selective bibliography and CME information. Overall, the resource aims to educate psychiatrists about the risks of heat waves and enables them to protect their patients and communities from these hazards.

Keywords

Heat Waves

Practicing Psychiatrist

Protecting Patients

Global Surface Temperatures

Heat-Related Risks

Psychiatric Medications

Mental Illnesses

Psychiatric Diagnoses

Heat-Related Morbidity

Heat-Related Mortality