Around a quarter of patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs) will develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Given the dramatic increase in ICU admissions during theCOVID-19 pandemic, clinicians are likely to see a rise in post-ICU PTSD cases in the coming months.Post-ICU PTSD can present various challenges to clinicians, and no clinical guidelines have beenpublished for delivering trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy with this population. In this article, we describe how to use cognitive therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD), a first line treatment for PTSD recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Using clinical case examples, we outline the key techniques involved in CT-PTSD, and describe their application to treating patients with PTSD following ICU.

Patients with COVID-19 who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) could have a greater risk of long-term health issues. Additionally, people requiring intensive care are at increased risk for mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Impaired lung function from SARS-CoV-2 infection can negatively affect other organs like the heart, kidneys, and brain, with significant health impacts that may last after getting over the infection.

Experts say hospital ICU stays, often faced alone, bring mental health woes to older patients in particular