Purpose:Post-traumatic stress disorder has been reported in survivors of critical illness. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors of critical illness.Materials and methods:Patients attending the intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up clinic completed the UK-Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome 14-Questions Inventory and data was collected from their medical records. Predictors investigated included age, gender, Apache II score, ICU length of stay, pre-illness psychopathology; delirium and benzodiazepine administration during ICU stay and delusional memories of the ICU stay following discharge.Results:A total of 198 patients participated, with 54 (27%) patients suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.On multivariable logistic regression, the significant predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder were younger age,lower Apache II score, pre-illness psychopathology and delirium during the ICU stay.Conclusions:The predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder in this study concur with previous research however a lower Apache II score has not been previously reported.

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a collection of symptoms, limitations, and impairments that are present in people who have recently been treated in a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). These impairments may be chronic and may limit your full participation in your normal activities upon discharge from the ICU.

If you have been recently discharged from the intensive care unit, you may benefit from the care of a physical therapist to help you recover fully and return to your previous level of work and recreational activity.

This article stresses four main questions about PICS: What is post intensive care syndrome (PICS), Who gets post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), What are the symptoms of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), and What causes post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).