Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34587929›Full record

Observational studyBMC psychiatry2021

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in next of kin during suspension of ICU visits during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective observational study.

Bjoern Zante, Katja Erne, Julia Grossenbacher, Sabine A Camenisch, Joerg C Schefold, Marie-Madlen Jeitziner

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC psychiatry, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bjoern ZanteDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. bjoern.zante@insel.ch.
Katja ErneDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Julia GrossenbacherDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Sabine A CamenischDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Joerg C SchefoldDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Marie-Madlen JeitzinerDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, suspension of visits by next of kin to patients in intensive care units (ICU), to prevent spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been a common practice. This could impede established family-centered care and may affect the mental health of the next of kin. The aim of this study was to explore symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) in the next of kin of ICU patients.

methodsIn this prospective observational single-center study, next of kin of ICU patients were interviewed by telephone, using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), to assess symptoms of acute stress disorder during the ICU stay and PTSD symptoms at 3 months after the ICU stay. The primary outcome was the prevalence of severe PTSD symptoms (IES-R score ≥ 33) at 3 months. The secondary outcomes comprised the IES-R scores during the ICU stay, at 3 months, and the prevalence of severe symptoms of acute stress disorder during ICU stay. An inductive content analysis was performed of the next of kin's comments regarding satisfaction with patient care and the information they were given.

resultsOf the 411 ICU patients admitted during the study period, 62 patients were included together with their next of kin. An IES-R score > 33 was observed in 90.3% (56/62) of next of kin during the ICU stay and in 69.4% (43/62) 3 months later. The median IES-R score was 49 (IQR 40-61) during the ICU stay and 41 (IQR 30-55) at 3 months. The inductive content analysis showed that communication/information (55%), support (40%), distressing emotions (32%), and suspension of ICU visits (24%) were mentioned as relevant aspects by the next of kin.

conclusionsDuring the suspension of ICU visits in the COVID-19 pandemic, high prevalence and severity of both symptoms of acute stress disorder during the ICU stay and PTSD symptoms 3 months later were observed in the next of kin of ICU patients.

Indexed as

COVID-19Stress Disorders, Post-TraumaticHumansIntensive Care UnitsPandemicsSARS-CoV-2Critical careMental distressPost intensive care syndrome–familyPsychological diseaseRelativesStress disorder

Identifiers

PMID34587929
PMCPMC8480126

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.