Mental health after intensive care

Psychological interventions could be used to reduce mental health problems following treatment in intensive care units (ICU), new research has suggested. Published in Critical Care Journal, the study revealed more than half of patients discharged from these departments experience psychological problems as a consequence.

Investigators from University College London's (UCL) hospital intensive care unit discovered the primary reason individuals have subsequent psychological issues is acute stress reactions experienced while in intensive care.

Other factors identified were the duration of sedation for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, use of inotropes and vasopressors for anxiety, benzodiazepines for depression and steroids for physical gains.

Dr Dorothy Wade of the UCL Institute of Child Health - who is also a member of the British Psychological Society - explained people experience stress and delirium in the ICU "due to invasive treatments and powerful drugs received and those who suffer those stress reactions are more likely to have adverse psychological outcomes in the long-term".