title: The impact of current media events on hallucinatory content: the experience of the intensive care unit (ICU) patient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of current media events on hallucinatory content in ICU patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were interviewed over a one-year period, and their descriptions of hallucinatory experiences, together with weekly media stories, were assessed for themes of war.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Media coverage for war-related stories rose significantly during the period of war in Kosovo (24/3/99-20/6/99). Patients whose ICU stays coincided with this conflict were more likely to have hallucinatory experiences involving themes of war or the military. Older adults (> 70) were also more susceptible to this effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contextual variables such as current media events can have a significant impact upon the contents of hallucinatory experiences.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Research Group, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skirrow
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D006212:Hallucinations; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008402:Mass Media; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014857:Warfare; D015022:Yugoslavia