Follow-up after paediatric intensive care treatment: parental posttraumatic stress.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of posttraumatic stress in parents after an acute admission to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and to determine risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress.


METHODS
Parents completed posttraumatic stress questionnaires three months after their child's discharge. This questionnaire measures both symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and enables determination of the full psychiatric diagnosis of PTSD. Medical and demographic data concerning their child were gathered from physical evaluations three months after discharge. Of 250 eligible families, 144 (57.6%) participated in this study. The questionnaires were completed by 140 mothers and 107 fathers.


RESULTS
More than three-quarters of the parents experienced persistent symptoms of PTSD. In 21 mothers (15.0%) and 10 fathers (9.3%), the full psychiatric diagnosis of PTSD was determined. In six families, both parents had PTSD. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between symptoms of PTSD of the mothers and the fathers. No obvious medical risk factors could be distinguished.


CONCLUSIONS
The unexpected admission of a child to a PICU is a stressful event associated with parental posttraumatic stress. Treatment should not end after discharge. Follow-up care is warranted and research should be focused on prevention of these symptoms.
Bronner
Madelon B
MB
Psychosocial Department, Emma Children's Hospital AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.b.bronner@amc.uva.nl
Knoester
Hennie
H
Bos
Albert P
AP
Last
Bob F
BF
Grootenhuis
Martha A
MA
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires