More than half of the former intensive care patients suffer from anxiety, PTSD or depression

More than half of patients who survive critical illness requiring care in an intensive care unit suffer from anxiety, PTSD or depression in the year following their discharge.

The number of psychologically suffering patients is greater than expected, reveals a study from Oxford University.

And when they are suffering from the symptoms of a psychological condition, they have a 64% chance that they will develop together with the symptoms of another.

Studies show that depressed people are 47% more likely to die within two years of leaving.

The scientists said that patients in the intensive care unit should be screened for those who may be suffering from psychological disorders.

A study from the University of Oxford reveals that more than half of the former intensive care patients suffer from mental health issues, such as PTSD, within one year of their critical care discharge.

The further weakening or worsening of physical, cognitive or mental health after ICU treatment is known as Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS).

Dr. Peter Watkinson, Associate Professor of Critical Care Medicine, said, "It is estimated that the psychopathological components of PICS occur in up to one-third of ICU survivors.

"The main psychological conditions described are anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)".

The researchers studied psychological disorders in a cohort of 4,943 former ICU patients between 2006 and 2013.

They spent at least 24 hours in a Level 3 ICU and completed a questionnaire on their anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms, three months after leaving the center and 12 months later. later.

The results, published in the journal Critical Care, show that 46% of patients reported anxiety symptoms, 40% of symptoms of depression and 22% of symptoms of PTSD.

And 18% reported symptoms of the three psychological states.

Prof Watkinson said: "Psychological problems after being treated for a critical illness in ICU are very common and often complex when they occur.

"When symptoms of a psychological disorder are present, there is a 65% chance that they will manifest at the same time as the symptoms of another psychological disorder."

The study also found that depression was linked to higher mortality rates for common medical conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, cerebrovascular disease, accidents, diabetes mellitus and diabetes. hypertension.

This is the first time that an association between depression and an increase in the death rate has been demonstrated, according to the authors.

Professor Watkinson said, "It remains to be seen whether clinicians are unaware of the screening and treatment of depression for the treatment of chronic disease or whether there is a biological association between chronic disease and depression.

"In the post-ICU population, the observed association between depression and mortality may be partly explained by the severity of chronic diseases before and after discharge, factors for which we have not adjusted this." study.

Depression may be a factor not previously considered in survival after resuscitation.

"Given the incidence of depression among survivors, the symptoms of this condition must be detected and managed during the post-ICU period in primary care and in ICU follow-up clinics. "

There were 271,079 adult records in an intensive care unit in 2015-2016, according to the NHS. Patients aged 50 and over accounted for 77%.

He noted that due to the nature of observation of the study and the fact that it is based on self-reported data, this does not allow conclusions to be drawn about the causal relationships effect between intensive care and symptoms of psychological disorders.