[Psychological problems in intensive care. I. The Resuscitation Center]

Intensive therapy units are defined and their operation is explained for the benefit of the non-specialist, so as to clarify the background of the psychological situations in question. An investigation was made of the factors that may interfere with the smooth running of an intensive therapy department, where work is often done under emergency conditions. Interviews between psychologists, and physicians, paramedical staff and patients were chosen as a means of responding to this need. Open interviews were related to the length of hospital stay, patient age and sex, the clinical pictures of subjects admitted to the Resuscitation Centre, and another group admitted to the Coronary Unit. The results were examined with reference to: examinations during hospitalisation, things remembered about the period of admission, dominant thoughts during the acute stage, attitude towards the care received, and changes proposed by the patient. From an examination of these features, assessments are made with regard to the relations and interaction between each component, particularly between doctor and patient in coma, and patient and nursing staff and resuscitation centre and other departments. Particular stress is laid on the delicacy of the relationships with relatives and persons admitted to RC. Some technical advice is offered as the conclusion to the examination of the RC forming the first part of the research.