Critically ill patients are at risk for posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) after hospitalization. This can lead to development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other long-term medical and psychiatric disorders. Warlan and colleagues examined the use of a posttraumatic stress instrument to screen for high PTSS and identify factors related to higher levels. They found the following:
None of the patients had received any formal education about the risk of ICU-related PTSD. Although further study is needed, the authors recommend identifying PTSS to provide early intervention services and possibly improve patient outcomes.
See Article, pp 509–515
Family conferences in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are used for a variety of reasons, which include providing updates, discussing prognosis, and determining treatment preferences. Multidisciplinary participation is promoted, but most family conferences are physician dominated with a transfer-of-knowledge focus. Watson and colleagues examined nurse participation and perceptions during PICU family conferences and...
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