PTSD Common in ICU Survivors

In findings recently published in the journal Critical Care Medicine, researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that nearly one-quarter of intensive-care unit (ICU) survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research term also identified possible triggers for PTSD and indicated a preventative strategy; having patients keep ICU diaries. Existing psychological problems, large amounts of sedation and reports of frightening ICU memories appear to contribute to the increased risk of PTSD. “PTSD can drastically impact a person’s ability to communicate and connect with others, truly interpreting their lives and preventing experiences of joy,” said an associate professor of psychiatry and behavior sciences from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “This is why our findings are important and why it’s so critical that we continue to research ways to prevent PTSD.” Through a systematic literature review, the research team looked at 40 studies of 36 unique patient cohorts with a total of more than 3,000 patients who survived a critical illness and ICU stay. The researchers excluded patients who had suffered a trauma, such as a car crash, or brain injury, because those patients’ cognitive and psychological outcomes can be affected by the injury itself, rather than the critical illness/ICU stay. They found that the prevalence of PTSD in the studies ranged from 10 to 60 percent. To read more about this study, click here.