Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression in North African intensive care unit survivors: a prospective observational study

Abstract

Background: Survivors of critical illness often face significant physical and psychological challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, which can severely impact their quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of PTSD, anxiety, and depression among intensive care unit (ICU) survivors 3 months after discharge, and investigate the prevalence and determinants of post-intensive care syndrome–related neuropsychiatric disorders (PICS-ND).Methods: This is a prospective observational analytical study carried out in a medical ICU. Three months after discharge from the ICU, survivors were contacted by telephone to complete the Impact Event Scale-Revised and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables that were independently and significantly associated with outcomes. Results: A total of 114 survivors was enrolled. At 3 months, PTSD, anxiety, and depression were prevalent in 21.9%, 21.0%, and 9.6% of patients, respectively. Associated factors were younger age, female, physical restraint, and critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy (CIPNM) for PTSD; unmarried, low Charlson index, and physical restraint for anxiety; and younger age and CIPNM for depression. PICS-ND, a composite measure of neuropsychiatric morbidity, was present in 28.9% of patients, with younger age, female, and physical restraint identified as associated factors.Conclusions: PTSD, anxiety, depression, and PICS-ND were common among ICU survivors at 3 months. Various factors, including younger age, female, unmarried, lower Charlson index, physical restraint, and CIPNM, were associated with these psychological outcomes.