BACKGROUND: Patients in medical, surgical, and trauma intensive care units (ICUs) are at risk for later development of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because acute brain injury can impair recall; we sought to show that neuroscience patients undergoing prolonged neuroscience ICU admission have limited memory of their ICU stay and thus are less likely to develop symptoms of PTSD. METHODS: We surveyed patients >18 years admitted for 10 days or more to our neuroscience ICU over a 10-year period. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 50.5% (47/93). Forty percent (19/47) of respondents presented with coma. Recall of details of the ICU admission was limited. Fewer than 10% of patients who required mechanical ventilation recalled being on a ventilator. Only five patients (11%) had responses suggestive of possible post-traumatic stress syndrome. The most commonly experienced symptoms following discharge were difficulty sleeping, difficulty with concentration, and memory loss. CONCLUSION: Patients requiring prolonged neuroscience ICU admission do not appear to be traumatized by their ICU stay.
BACKGROUND:Patients in medical, surgical, and trauma intensive care units (ICUs) are at risk for later development of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because acute brain injury can impair recall; we sought to show that neuroscience patients undergoing prolonged neuroscience ICU admission have limited memory of their ICU stay and thus are less likely to develop symptoms of PTSD. METHODS: We surveyed patients >18 years admitted for 10 days or more to our neuroscience ICU over a 10-year period. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 50.5% (47/93). Forty percent (19/47) of respondents presented with coma. Recall of details of the ICU admission was limited. Fewer than 10% of patients who required mechanical ventilation recalled being on a ventilator. Only five patients (11%) had responses suggestive of possible post-traumatic stress syndrome. The most commonly experienced symptoms following discharge were difficulty sleeping, difficulty with concentration, and memory loss. CONCLUSION:Patients requiring prolonged neuroscience ICU admission do not appear to be traumatized by their ICU stay.
Authors: Cheryl Ethier; Lisa Burry; Carlos Martinez-Motta; Sam Tirgari; Depeng Jiang; Ellen McDonald; John Granton; Deborah Cook; Sangeeta Mehta Journal: J Crit Care Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 3.425
Authors: Dimitry S Davydow; Douglas F Zatzick; Frederick P Rivara; Gregory J Jurkovich; Jin Wang; Peter P Roy-Byrne; Wayne J Katon; Catherine L Hough; Erin K Kross; Ming-Yu Fan; Jutta Joesch; Ellen J MacKenzie Journal: Gen Hosp Psychiatry Date: 2009-06-23 Impact factor: 3.238