title: Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress after Intensive Care Delirium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term psychological consequences of critical illness are receiving more attention in recent years. The aim of our study was to assess the correlation of ICU-delirium and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) anxiety and depression after ICU-discharge in a Danish cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational cohort study assessing the incidence of delirium in the ICU. Psychometrics were screened by validated tools in structured telephone interviews after 2 months (n = 297) and 6 months (n = 248) after ICU-discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Delirium was detected in 54% of patients in the ICU and symptoms of PTSD in 8% (2 months) and 6% (6 months) after ICU-discharge. Recall of ICU stay was present in 93%. Associations between ICU-delirium and post-discharge PTSD-symptoms were weak and insignificant. Memories of delusions were significantly associated with anxiety after two months. Remaining associations between types of ICU-memories and prevalence of post-discharge symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression were insignificant after adjusting for age. Incidence of ICU-delirium was unaffected by preadmission use of psychotropic drugs. Prevalence of PTSD-symptoms was unaffected by use of antipsychotics and sedation in the ICU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ICU-delirium did not increase the risk of PTSD-symptoms at 2 and 6 months after ICU discharge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, VIA University College, Hedeager 2, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Svenningsen
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Trauma Center 3193, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Egerod
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Hillerød Hospital, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Building 21, 1, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Else Kirstine
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Tønnesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, Aarhus University, Building 1261, Room 221, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frydenberg
authors.affiliation: Department Q, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov Skovagervej 2, 8240 Risskov, Denmark.
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Videbech
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care; D003693:Delirium / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology