Psychiatric symptoms post intensive care unit admission

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Neurology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) encompasses physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments following critical illness.
• Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for life-threatening conditions face significant risks of developing PICS.
• Understanding the variability in PICS development is crucial for optimizing patient recovery and long-term well-being.

Observation:

• A 53-year-old woman experienced two distinct ICU admissions for severe community-acquired pneumonia requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and non-cirrhotic hyperammonaemic encephalopathy.
• Following the first admission for hyperammonaemic encephalopathy, the patient developed prolonged anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms.
• After the second admission for severe pneumonia, the patient's psychological outcomes differed, warranting further investigation into contributing factors.

Findings:

• The patient's psychological sequelae varied significantly between the two critical illness events.
• This case underscores the complex and individualized nature of post-intensive care syndrome development.
• Factors such as the nature of the critical illness, pre-existing conditions, and treatment modalities may influence psychological outcomes.

Implications:

• This case highlights the need for tailored psychological support strategies for ICU survivors.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific factors influencing differential PICS trajectories.
• Recognizing and managing diverse psychological outcomes is essential for comprehensive critical care and long-term patient management.