title: Memories from intensive care unit persist for several years--a longitudinal prospective multi-centre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In connection with the care received in the intensive care unit (ICU), the patient can experience discomfort and frustration. Earlier studies have shown mechanical ventilation (MV) to be a factor that increases patients' delusional memories in the ICU. The patients who need MV after a physical trauma constitute a vulnerable group who so far has attracted little attention from a long-term perspective.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim for this study is to describe mechanically ventilated trauma patients over time regarding their memories, psychological recovery and health related quality of life (HRQoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multicentre study, 41 patients who had received MV, answered a questionnaire with the SF-36, HAD and ICUM tool on two occasions about one and five years after the injury and care in the ICU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' memories were stable over time and significantly more patients remembered panic and anxiety. 37% remembered pain one year after the trauma and 46% five years thereafter. The majority of the patients remembered the family's presence from their ICU stay. Half of the patients had thoughts regarding why they had so few recollections. One fourth of the patients experienced clear symptoms of anxiety and the same amount had symptoms of depression one year after the injury. In seven of the patients the symptoms of probable anxiety persisted after five years. In six of the patients the symptoms of probable depression persisted after five years. Two of eight dimensions in HRQoL, the physical and emotional role functions, had improved significantly five years after the injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five years after the trauma, the memories from the ICU were still the same and the HRQoL improved in only two out of eight dimensions. A smaller group of patients had remaining symptoms of psychological ill-health. MV in connection with trauma may result in continued reduced health in the long term.
authors.affiliation: Operation Norr, AN/OP/IVA, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. per.zetterlund@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zetterlund
authors.forename: Kaety
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Plos
authors.forename: Ingegerd
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bergbom
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ringdal
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation