Collaboration of Clinical Psychology in the Critical Care Unit: prevention and treatment of post-ICU syndrome

Abstract

Letter to the Editor: Currently, there is extensive knowledge regarding the emotional problems linked to critical illness, the treatments required by it, the associated experiences and post-ICU difficulties in patients, families and professionals. Some difficulties derived from admission to the ICU have been grouped under the so-called post-intensive care syndrome (or PICS). During acute critical illness, a series of preventive measures should be put in place that are focused on minimizing the impact of PICS. The aim of this work is to show the experience with the psychological intervention project in the Intensive Care Unit of Anesthesiology of the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete (Spain). We consider that it is essential to report initiatives that improve the quality of care.

Keywords

• clinical psychology
• intensive care
• post-icu syndrome
• humanization
• post-traumatic stress disorder