Psychological morbidity a year after treatment in intensive care unit

Depressive symptoms over time among survivors after critical illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Critical illness survivors frequently experience various degrees of depressive symptoms, which hinder their recovery and return to daily life. However, substantial variability in the prevalence of depressive symptoms has been reported among critical illness survivors. The exact prevalence remains uncertain.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from inception to August 2023 for observational studies that reported depressive symptoms in adult critical illness survivors. The random-effects model was used to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were conducted to explore potential moderators of heterogeneity. Study quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute's tool and the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

Fifty-two studies with 24,849 participants met the inclusion criteria. Overall prevalence estimate of depressive symptoms was 21.1% (95% CI, 18.3-24.1%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms remains stable over time. Point prevalence estimates were 21.3% (95% CI, 9.9-35.4%), 19.9% (95% CI, 14.6-25.9%), 18.5% (95% CI, 9.6-29.2%), 21.0% (95% CI, 16.8-25.5%), and 22.6% (95% CI, 14.4-31.8%) at <3, 3, 6, 12, and > 12 months after discharge from intensive care unit (ICU), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive symptoms may impact 1 in 5 adult critically ill patients within 1 year or more following ICU discharge. An influx of rehabilitation service demand is expected, and risk stratification to make optimal clinical decisions is essential. More importantly, to propose measures for the prevention and improvement of depressive symptoms in patients after critical care, given the continuous, dynamic management of ICU patients, including ICU stay, transition to general wards, and post-hospital.

Anesthesia and the neurobiology of fear and posttraumatic stress disorder

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Dysfunction of fear memory systems underlie a cluster of clinically important and highly prevalent psychological morbidities seen in perioperative and critical care patients, most archetypally posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several sedative-hypnotics and analgesics are known to modulate fear systems, and it is theoretically plausible that clinical decisions of the anesthesiologist could impact psychological outcomes. This review aims to provide a focused synthesis of relevant literature from multiple fields of research.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is evidence in some contexts that unconscious fear memory systems are less sensitive to anesthetics than are conscious memory systems. Opiates may suppress the activation of fear systems and have benefit in the prevention of PTSD following trauma. There is inconsistent evidence that the use of propofol and benzodiazepines for sedation following trauma may potentiate the development of PTSD relative to other drugs. The benefits of ketamine seen in the treatment of major depression are not clearly replicated in PTSD-cluster psychopathologies, and its effects on fear processes are complex.

SUMMARY

There are multiple theoretical mechanisms by which anesthetic drugs can modulate fear systems and clinically important fear-based psychopathologies. The current state of research provides some evidence to support further hypothesis investigation. However, the absence of effectiveness studies and the inconsistent signals from smaller studies provide insufficient evidence to currently offer firm clinical guidance.

Employment status and its associated factors for patients 12 months after intensive care: Secondary analysis of the SMAP-HoPe study

Background

Returning to work is a serious issue that affects patients who are discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). This study aimed to clarify the employment status and the perceived household financial status of ICU patients 12 months following ICU discharge. Additionally, we evaluated whether there exists an association between depressive symptoms and subsequent unemployment status.

Methods

This study was a subgroup analysis of the published Survey of Multicenter Assessment with Postal questionnaire for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome for Home Living Patients (the SMAP-HoPe study) in Japan. Eligible patients were those who were employed before ICU admission, stayed in the ICU for at least three nights between October 2019 and July 2020, and lived at home for 12 months after discharge. We assessed the employment status, subjective cognitive functions, household financial status, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and EuroQOL-5 dimensions of physical function at 12 months following intensive care.

Results

This study included 328 patients, with a median age of 64 (interquartile range [IQR], 52–72) years. Of these, 79 (24%) were unemployed 12 months after ICU discharge. The number of patients who reported worsened financial status was significantly higher in the unemployed group (p<0.01) than in the employed group. Multivariable analysis showed that higher age (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.08]) and greater severity of depressive symptoms (OR, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.05–1.23]) were independent factors for unemployment status at 12 months after ICU discharge.

Conclusions

We found that 24.1% of our patients who had been employed prior to ICU admission were subsequently unemployed following ICU discharge and that depressive symptoms were associated with unemployment status. The government and the local municipalities should provide medical and financial support to such patients. Additionally, community and workplace support for such patients are warranted.