Jill L Guttormson1. 1. Marquette University College of Nursing, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53210, USA. Electronic address: jill.guttormson@marquette.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe intensive care unit (ICU) patients' delusional memories and interpretations of those memories. BACKGROUND: Delusional memories of the ICU are distressing for patients and may impact psychological recovery. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from a study of mechanically ventilated patients' recall in relation to sedation. Subjects, recruited from one medical-surgical ICU, participated in structured interviews after extubation. RESULTS: Subjects (n = 35) with a mean age of 66 (SD 12.9) and on the ventilator a median of 4.5 days provided detailed descriptions of delusional memories of being shackled, caged, strangled, or being in a foreign country. Delusions were very real and frightening in the moment. Subjects had difficulty connecting to reality to allow processing of the delusions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' delusional memories of ICU share common distressing themes. Assisting patients' to connect to real ICU events and process delusional memories may help with psychological recovery after critical illness.
OBJECTIVES: To describe intensive care unit (ICU) patients' delusional memories and interpretations of those memories. BACKGROUND: Delusional memories of the ICU are distressing for patients and may impact psychological recovery. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from a study of mechanically ventilated patients' recall in relation to sedation. Subjects, recruited from one medical-surgical ICU, participated in structured interviews after extubation. RESULTS: Subjects (n = 35) with a mean age of 66 (SD 12.9) and on the ventilator a median of 4.5 days provided detailed descriptions of delusional memories of being shackled, caged, strangled, or being in a foreign country. Delusions were very real and frightening in the moment. Subjects had difficulty connecting to reality to allow processing of the delusions. CONCLUSIONS:Patients' delusional memories of ICU share common distressing themes. Assisting patients' to connect to real ICU events and process delusional memories may help with psychological recovery after critical illness.
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