Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42209133›Full record

SynthesisBMJ global health2026

Systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions for mental health in extreme weather events.

Jai K Das, Ayesha Arshad Ali, Anzal Taufeeq Jangda, Nisma Riaz, Zulfiqar A Bhutta

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ global health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Jai K DasInstitute for Global Health and Development, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID 0000-0002-2966-7162
Ayesha Arshad AliInstitute for Global Health and Development, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID 0000-0003-2153-6704
Anzal Taufeeq JangdaMorristown Medical Center, Morristown, New Jersey, USA.
Nisma RiazProfit by Pakistan Today, Karachi, Pakistan.
Zulfiqar A BhuttaInstitute for Global Health and Development, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan Zulfiqar.bhutta@sickkids.ca.ORCID 0000-0003-0637-599X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionClimate change leading to extreme weather events (EWEs) poses critical threat to human health, including mental well-being. As the effects of climate change are becoming more pronounced, there is a need to identify effective interventions to mitigate the mental health impacts.

methodsThe aim of this review was to synthesise the existing literature on interventions to prevent and manage mental health symptoms in people affected by EWEs. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in MEDLINE, EBSCO CINAHL and Cochrane till 7 February 2024 and in Web of Science and EMBASE till 20 February 2024. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental studies and before-after study designs were included. Our search yielded 11 083 potentially relevant papers, which were screened by titles and full texts and 33 studies were finally included in the review. We recorded the study, participants, intervention, disaster and other relevant data on Excel in duplicate. We conducted a meta-analysis separately for intervention-control and before-after studies using Review Manager 5.4. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool II was used to assess risk of bias in RCTs and the risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions tool for quasi-experimental and before-after designs. Main outcomes were symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, stress, general functioning and well-being.

resultsThere was significant improvement in mental health symptoms following implementation of various interventions, leading to a decrease in PTSD symptoms (standardised mean difference (SMD) -2.92, 95% CI (-4.53 to -1.31), six intervention-control studies and SMD -0.71, 95% CI (-0.95 to -0.48), five before-after studies), depression symptoms (SMD -0.28, 95% CI (-0.53 to -0.03), three intervention-control studies and SMD -1.00, 95% CI (-1.41 to -0.59), 11 before-after studies), anxiety symptoms (SMD -0.38, 95% CI (-0.69 to -0.06), two studies and SMD -0.35, 95% CI (-0.47 to -0.23), eight before-after studies), stress symptoms (SMD -0.82, 95% CI (-1.10 to -0.53), two before-after studies), general functioning impairment (SMD -1.22, 95% CI (-1.73 to -0.70), three before-after studies) and an improvement in well-being (SMD 0.29, 95% CI (0.15 to 0.42), three intervention-control studies and SMD 0.67, 95% CI (0.25 to 1.09), two before-after studies).

conclusionThere are existing interventions to improve mental health after an EWE, and these should be integrated into all relevant disaster management plans.

Indexed as

Climate ChangeExtreme WeatherMental DisordersMental HealthAnxietyDepressionHumansStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticEnvironmental healthMental Health & PsychiatrySystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42209133
PMCPMC13223657

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.