title: Dysfunctional psychological responses among Intensive Care Unit nurses: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review evidence on dysfunctional psychological responses of Intensive Care Units nurses (ICUNs), with focus on anxiety and depressive symptoms and related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed in CINAHL, PubMed and Scopus databases, from 1999 to present, along with a critical appraisal and synthesis of all relevant data. The following key words, separately and in combination, were used: "mental status" "depressive symptoms" "anxiety" "ICU nurses" "PTSD" "burnout" "compassion fatigue" "psychological distress".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen quantitative studies in English and Greek were included. The results suggested increased psychological burden in ICUNs compared to other nursing specialties, as well as to the general population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies investigating psychological responses of ICUNs are limited, internationally. Future longitudinal and intervention studies will contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karanikola
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannakopoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Meropi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mpouzika
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Charis P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kaite
authors.affiliation: Clinical Cardiologist, Kastoria, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios Z
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Tsiaousis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Elizabeth D E
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Papathanassoglou
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*