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Discharge Screening Predicts Persistent Parental Psychological Distress After Pediatric Critical Illness

Lynne M Rosenberg1, Gabrielle Silver2, Keshia Small3

  • 1Department of Poison & Drug Safety, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO 80204, USA.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 29, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Parental psychological distress is common after pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. Screening at discharge can identify families needing support for persistent anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

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.

Keywords:
critical carefamilyoutcomesparentpediatricpost-intensive care syndrome (PICS)

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