Decision-making Preferences and Levels of Anxiety and Depression in Family Members of Patients Admitted to the ICU

We aimed to study decision-making preferences and levels of anxiety and depression in family members of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

This was a prospective observational study done in the mixed medical-surgical ICU. About 127 patients were recruited in first analysis and 100 patients were recruited in second analysis. Decision-making preferences were obtained only during first analysis. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) scores were calculated during both times. Hospital anxiety and depression scale scores more than or equal to 11 were found to have anxiety and depression. We also aimed to study the association between decision-making preferences and levels of anxiety and depression.

Around 27 relatives did not give consent during second time analysis. About 61% preferred shared decision-making and 27 and 12% preferred active and passive decision-making respectively. About 63% of the relatives had anxiety during first analysis and 54% had anxiety during second analysis. 66.9% had symptoms of depression during first analysis and 62% had depression during second analysis. There was a significant association between decision-making preferences and level of anxiety and depression.

In our study, the majority of the relatives preferred shared decision-making, and the incidence of anxiety and depression seems to be high in the Indian population. A significant association was found between decision-making preferences and level of anxiety and depression, with passive decision-making being associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression.

Krishnamoorthy D, Senthilkumar, Venkataraman R, Ramakrishnan N, Vignesh C. Decision-making Preferences and Levels of Anxiety and Depression in Family Members of Patients Admitted to the ICU. Indian J Crit Care Med 2025;29(2):155-163.