Posttraumatic stress disorder in close Relatives of Intensive Care unit patients' Evaluation (PRICE) study

There is a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in relatives of intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

To determine the prevalence and predictors of symptoms of PTSD in relatives of an Australian critically ill population.

108 consecutive patients staying >48 h in a mixed, level three ICU were identified. On day three of admission, their next-of-kin were contacted and consent obtained for a telephonic questionnaire to be done at 90 days after ICU discharge. This consisted of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) questionnaires administered to relatives at 90 days post-discharge from the ICU. An IES-R score of >26 was used to define PTSD symptoms.

Eight subjects were excluded because the next-of-kin details were unavailable. 37 other subjects refused to participate. Out of a total of 108, 63 family members were included, including 49 next-of-kin of patients who survived. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 41.2% (26/63, 95% CI 29.0-54.4%). The anxiety score was found to be a predictor of PTSD symptoms (relative risk=1.07; 95% CI 1.00-1.14, p=0.05).

There is a high prevalence of PTSD symptoms in next-of-kin of Australian patients admitted to the ICU. High anxiety scores were a predictor for developing PTSD symptoms.