Nightmares After the I.C.U.

After a stay in the intensive care unit (I.C.U.) because of abdominal infections, Lygia Dunsworth began having hallucinations and even showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which still haunt her years later. Research shows that patients who have longer stays in the I.C.U. can experience these kinds of symptoms for up to two years after leaving the hospital. These symptoms include intrusive thoughts, avoidant behaviors, mood swings, emotional numbness and reckless behavior. In some case, family members are actually the ones who develop PTSD symptoms rather than the patient, after witnessing their loved one struggling. This all may be due to the environment of the I.C.U. itself, the treatments that patients receive during their stay, or the often-traumatic event that landed them in the hospital. The symptoms could also be caused by the medications used for sedation. As Dr. O. Joseph Bienvenu, a psychiatrist and associate professor at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains, “Everyone pays attention to whether patients can walk and how weak they are. But it’s the exception for them to be screened for psychiatric symptoms like post-traumatic stress or low mood.” It's important for patients to be evaluated on all aspects of their health after a lengthened stay in the I.C.U., since many patients may not show physical signs or symptoms.

The New York Times, 7/22/13