title: Posttraumatic stress disorder in close Relatives of Intensive Care unit patients' Evaluation (PRICE) study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in relatives of intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and predictors of symptoms of PTSD in relatives of an Australian critically ill population.
  
  
  METHODS
  108 consecutive patients staying >48 h in a mixed, level three ICU were identified. On day three of admission, their next-of-kin were contacted and consent obtained for a telephonic questionnaire to be done at 90 days after ICU discharge. This consisted of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) questionnaires administered to relatives at 90 days post-discharge from the ICU. An IES-R score of >26 was used to define PTSD symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight subjects were excluded because the next-of-kin details were unavailable. 37 other subjects refused to participate. Out of a total of 108, 63 family members were included, including 49 next-of-kin of patients who survived. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 41.2% (26/63, 95% CI 29.0-54.4%). The anxiety score was found to be a predictor of PTSD symptoms (relative risk=1.07; 95% CI 1.00-1.14, p=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high prevalence of PTSD symptoms in next-of-kin of Australian patients admitted to the ICU. High anxiety scores were a predictor for developing PTSD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Intensive care Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital and University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Krishnaswamy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sundararajan
authors.affiliation: Traumatic Injuries Psychology Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Intensive care Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital and University of Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: visitsrinivasan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Srinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajagopala
authors.affiliation: Intensive care Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital and University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Marianne J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Family; Intensive care unit; Next-of-kin; PTSD; Satisfaction