Having a loved one in the ICU:  the forgotten family.
OBJECTIVE
An appreciation of the post-ICU burden for family members, as well as the ways to prevent and minimize their symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.


RESULTS
The long-term consequences of critical illness are growing in importance as the aging population increases its demand for critical care, and as the short-term mortality after critical illness decreases. Recently, postintensive care syndrome family was proposed as a new term for this cluster of psychological complications. Critical care providers are now recognizing the need to also address the psychological needs of the relatives earlier after ICU admission.


CONCLUSIONS
A high proportion of family members present with symptoms of anxiety (70%) and depression (35%). Acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related symptoms are also common. These symptoms are significantly more frequent when the relative is a spouse, or in bereaved family members. Few long-term data are available. However, in family members of dying patients, 1 year after the loss, up to 40% of them present with criteria for psychiatric illness such as generalized anxiety, major depressive disorders, or complicated grief. Prevention of post-ICU burden, mostly based on communication strategies, has been proposed to assist relatives.
Université Paris 6 - Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
Matthieu
M
Schmidt
Elie
E
Azoulay
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors