Post-traumatic stress disorder is often thought of as a symptom of warfare, major catastrophes and assault. It's rarely considered in patients who survive a critical illness and stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, in a recent Johns Hopkins study, researchers found that nearly one-quarter of ICU survivors suffer from PTSD. They also identified possible triggers for PTSD and indicated a potential preventive strategy: having patients keep ICU diaries. The findings will be published in the May issue of Critical Care Medicine.

People usually associate post-traumatic stress disorder with those who survive military combat, major catastrophes or assaults. But critically ill patients who survive an intensive care unit stay are at equally high risk for PTSD

Millions of people worldwide have survived an admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and the number of survivors is growing. While these patients have survived a life-threatening illness, most survivors suffer important long-term complications. Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a term that describes the cognitive, psychological, physical and other consequences that plague ICU survivors. Our aim is to discuss the prevalence, risk factors, impact, prevention and management of PICS