title: The intensive care unit experience: Psychological impact on family members of patients with and without traumatic brain injury.
abstract: The intensive care unit (ICU) has been identified as a possible contributor to emotional distress. This study seeks to identify whether families of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in the ICU experience psychological differences as compared with non-TBI patients' family members.
  
  
  
  Eighty-two family members in a trauma/critical care ICU were assessed at baseline and again at 3 months. The Patient Health Questionnaire 8-Item measured depression, the Primary Care PTSD Screen measured symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS).
  
  
  
  Forty of these individuals were the family members of ICU patients who had sustained a TBI; 42 of the individuals were the family members of non-TBI patients in the ICU. At baseline, 39% (33% non-TBI, 45% TBI, p = .28) of the total sample screened positive for depressive symptoms and 24.3% (26% non-TBI, 23% TBI, p = .69) screened positive for PTS symptoms. However, differences emerged between the groups at 3 months, with family members in the non-TBI group showing a significant decrease in both baseline depression and PTS symptoms.
  
  
  
  This study, to our knowledge, is the first of its kind to examine psychological differences in the ICU in those whose family members either have or do not have a TBI. Results suggest the TBI group endorsed more symptoms of depression and PTS symptoms at 3 months. Although it is unclear whether symptoms were directly related to the ICU experience or the injury itself, future research should explore the possible additive effect of postintensive care syndrome-family symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Ann Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Baylor Research Institute.
authors.forename: Evan Elizabeth
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Rainey
authors.affiliation: Baylor Research Institute.
authors.forename: Rebecca Joanne
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Weddle
authors.affiliation: Baylor Scott & White Health.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
authors.forename: Kenleigh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roden-Foreman
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Foreman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires