title: The prevalence of major depression-PTSD comorbidity among ICU survivors in five general hospitals of Athens: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Recent progress in medicine and technology has produced a significant increase in the survival rate of critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comorbidity among patients after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) and to compare it with patients who were discharged from the internal or surgical department. The study was conducted in five general hospitals in the greater Athens area. The sample of the research was composed of 198 patients. The point prevalence of major depression for ICU patients was 32.3%, while for non-ICU patients, it was 19.8%. In this study, 11.6% of the sample was found to meet the criteria for both major depression and PTSD. Early recognition and treatment of major depression and PTSD in critically ill patients could contribute to improved quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asimakopoulou
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madianos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*