Discharge Screening Predicts Persistent Parental Psychological Distress After Pediatric Critical Illness

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Psychology
• Family Studies

Background:

• Pediatric critical illness is a significant stressor for children and their families.
• Addressing family-level effects is crucial for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) survivor outcomes.
• Parental mental health impacts the overall family well-being and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prevalence and persistence of parental anxiety and depression following pediatric intensive care unit admission.
• To assess post-traumatic stress symptoms in parents at 30-day follow-up.
• To identify predictors of ongoing psychological distress in parents of PICU patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational cohort study design.
• Utilized the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before discharge and at 30 days.
• Employed the Impact of Events Scale (IES) for post-traumatic stress symptom screening at follow-up.

Main Results:

• 50% of parents screened positive for anxiety and/or depression pre-discharge.
• At 30-day follow-up, 44% of parents showed signs of anxiety, depression, and/or post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).
• Pre-discharge positive HADS screening was the sole independent predictor of persistent psychological symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Parental psychological distress is prevalent and enduring after a child's PICU stay.
• Discharge screening effectively identifies families at high risk for sustained mental health issues.
• Early identification facilitates timely interventions for parental anxiety, depression, and PTSS.