Intensive care diaries and relatives' symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder after critical illness: a pilot study

• Background: Relatives of patients recovering from critical illness have been shown to be at risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD).Objectives: The primary aim of this pilot study was to test whether the provision of an ICU diary to the patient and their relatives reduced the level of PTSD-related symptoms in the close family members.Methods: Observational study of close family members of Intensive care patients, with an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay of more than 72 hrs, recruited in two centres of a 12 centred randomised controlled trial examining the effect of a diary outlining the details of the patients ICU stay on the development of new onset PTSD on patients. The close family members of the patients were recruited to examine the additional effect of the provision of the patient diary on their PTSD-related symptoms.Results 36 family members were recruited and 30 completed the study. Where the patient received their diary at 1 month the family members showed lower levels of PTSD-related symptoms (p=0.03) at the 3 month follow-up compared to the control relatives.Conclusions: The provision of an ICU diary may be effective in aiding psychological recovery in families after critical illness.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Anestesi och intensivvård (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Families

critical illness

diaries

PTSD-related symptoms

memories

intervention

follow-up

rehabilitation

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)