Post-traumatic stress disorder after weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Prolonged mechanical ventilation weaning can cause mental distress.
• The link between this distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence of PTSD in patients after weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation.
• To determine if a questionnaire can identify patients at risk for PTSD development.

Main Methods:

• A prospective longitudinal study involved 72 patients weaning from prolonged ventilation.
• Patients were assessed 1 week and 3 months post-weaning.
• A structured clinical interview diagnosed PTSD, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS-10) questionnaire assessed symptoms.

Main Results:

• PTSD was diagnosed in 12% of patients 3 months post-weaning.
• A history of psychiatric disorders was associated with higher PTSD risk (P < 0.02).
• A PTSS-10 score >20 at 1 week post-weaning accurately predicted later PTSD diagnosis (AUC 0.91).

Conclusions:

• PTSD is a significant concern for patients weaned from prolonged ventilation.
• The PTSS-10 questionnaire is a valuable tool for early PTSD risk identification.
• Early identification facilitates timely intervention for at-risk patients.