'Take me away from all this' ... can reminiscence be therapeutic in an intensive care unit?
'Stuart had been with us in the ICU for 4 weeks; weaning attempts from his artificial ventilation were difficult, leaving him frightened, exhausted and despondent. Depression, hopelessness and apathy were beginning to take a hold on him ... until one day something changed everything. A way had been found to help him escape, temporarily, from his intensive care situation. Three days later Stuart was breathing spontaneously and was being prepared for discharge from the ICU.' In this paper potential benefits of reminiscence sessions with patients in a critical care unit are discussed. Background and context are reviewed, leading to some suggestions for practice.
Jones
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D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology