title: [Psychologists working as members of the intensive care team could reduce the length of stay].
abstract: Both short and long term outcome of mechanically ventilated patients are dependent on the time spent on ventilator and on the intensive care unit. Health related quality of life of the survival of intensive care has been proved to be related with the physical and psychological effects of the intensive care itself. In our previous multicenter randomized trial we have demonstrated the effect of psychological support delivered at the time of intensive care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this post hoc analysis is to demonstrate the effect of the psychological support given by an ICU staff psychologist providing continuous care by the same therapist.
  
  
  METHODS
  36 patients were included in the post hoc analysis, 17 in the control and 19 in the treatment group. The treatment group received daily psychological support based on positive suggestions delivered by the same therapist at least in 50% of the time. The control group received the same ICU care but without the involvement of the psychologist. There were no differences between the two groups in age, sex, SAPSII score and basic medical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RESULTS showed a significant reduction in mechanical ventilation (3.6 days shorter, p < 0.014) and length of stay (4.2 days shorter, p < 0.022) of the treatment group compared to the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the value of a psychologist working as a full member of the ICU team and providing supplementary psychological support of patients.
authors.affiliation: Jahn Ferenc Dél-pesti Kórház Központi Aneszteziológiai és Intenzív Terápiás Osztály Budapest Köves út 1. 1204. szilidri@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adrienn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: K Szilágyi
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diószeghy
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Varga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011584:Psychology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies