India, Aug. 10 -- Solastalgia-distress caused by changes to one's home or environment and linked to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-may explain climate change's impact on mental health, a study published by the journal BMJ Mental Health on Tuesday said.

What does the word mean? The authors explain that the term is a blend of the words 'solace' and 'nostalgia', and was first coined in 2003 to refer to the lack of solace and feelings of pain or sickness caused by changes in a person's immediate or surrounding environment.

Several scales have since been developed and validated to measure solastalgia, but the extent to which it might contribute to the effects of climate change on mental health isn't known, the...