[Traumatized relatives of intensive care patients]

[Psychosocial Care in the Intensive Care Unit]

The improvement of intensive care treatment options leads to an increasing number of patients being treated in this setting. For the majority of those affected and their relatives, this treatment is associated with tremendous stress, but also subsequent physical, psychological and cognitive impairments, the post-intensive care syndrome. The aim of psychosocial support in the intensive care unit is to stabilise and minimise the acute stress. This is done through care services oriented towards trauma therapy interventions and emergency psychology. Equally central are the needs of the patient's relatives and ways to stabilise and relieve them. The third pillar of psychosocial work in the intensive care unit is the support of the treatment team. Finally, an outlook is given for the specialised aftercare of these complex patients in PICS outpatient clinics.

[Aftercare of ICU patients: A task for pneumology?]

As the number of patients treated in intensive care medicine increases, so does the number of those who suffer from the long-term consequences of critical illness and the consequences of a stay in an intensive care unit. For this group of patients with a post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), there are currently no specialized outpatient care structures that follow the hospital stay and possible follow-up treatment. A number of studies are researching the effectiveness of intensive care outpatient clinics nationally and internationally.After presenting the PICS and the associated complex need for care, this review article presents various model projects for outpatient follow-up care of critically ill patients. We discuss whether the field of pneumology is particularly suitable for the study of therapy control of complex clinical pictures since it has vast experience in the treatment of intensive care patients and the outpatient care of chronically ill patients.

[Psychotraumatological aspects in intensive care medicine]

In the context of intensive care medicine, patients, their relatives, and more infrequently members of the ICU team can be affected by potential trauma. Acute stress disorder often results. Psychological symptoms of critically ill patients should therefore be regularly screened in a standardized manner in order to be able to identify and treat patients with a high symptom burden. Some traumatic stressors in intensive care medicine can be reduced using trauma-sensitive communication. Psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions can complement this basic care. High quality communication with relatives contributes to a risk reduction with regard to their subsequent psychological stress. On the part of the ICU team, stress should be differentiated from potentially traumatizing events and both problem areas should be dealt with preventively. After experiencing a traumatic event during work, a procedure analogous to physical work accidents is recommended.

Quality improvement of end‑of‑life decision-making and communication in the ICU : Effect on clinicians' burnout and relatives' distress

PURPOSE

End-of-life (EOL) decision-making is stressful. We conducted a quality improvement initiative to EOL decision-making and reduce stress for clinicians and patients' relatives.

METHODS

A before-after study running from 2010-2014 at four interdisciplinary intensive care units (ICU) in a German university hospital was performed. Between periods, a multifaceted intervention was implemented to improve timeliness, clinician involvement, and organisational support. Consecutive patients with severe sepsis and therapy limitations were included. Relatives were interviewed by telephone after 90 days to assess their psychological symptoms. Clinician burnout was assessed by staff surveys in each period.

RESULTS

Participation in the pre- and postintervention period was 84/145 and 90/159 among relatives, and 174/284 and 122/297 among ICU clinicians. Staff judged intervention elements as mostly helpful, but implementation of intervention elements was heterogeneous. From pre- to postintervention, relatives' risk of posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety did not change (all p ≥ 0.464). Clinicians' risk of burnout increased (29% vs. 41%, p = 0.05). Relatives were highly satisfied in both periods (median of 9 vs. 9.2 on a 1-10 scale each). Attendings involved residents and nurses more often (both p ≤ 0.018). Nurses more often had sufficient information to talk with relatives (41% vs. 62%, p = 0.002). Time to first EOL decision as well as barriers and facilitators of EOL decision-making did not change.

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention may have increased involvement in EOL decision-making, but was accompanied by an increased risk of clinician burnout maybe due to lack of improving communication skills and organisational support. More research is needed to understand which interventions can decrease clinician burnout.

[Psychotraumatological aspects in intensive care medicine]

In the context of intensive care medicine, patients, their relatives, and more infrequently members of the ICU team can be affected by potential trauma. Acute stress disorder often results. Psychological symptoms of critically ill patients should therefore be regularly screened in a standardized manner in order to be able to identify and treat patients with a high symptom burden. Some traumatic stressors in intensive care medicine can be reduced using trauma-sensitive communication. Psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions can complement this basic care. High quality communication with relatives contributes to a risk reduction with regard to their subsequent psychological stress. On the part of the ICU team, stress should be differentiated from potentially traumatizing events and both problem areas should be dealt with preventively. After experiencing a traumatic event during work, a procedure analogous to physical work accidents is recommended.

[Recommendations for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) : Consensus statement of DGIIN, DGK, DGTHG, DGfK, DGNI, DGAI, DIVI and GRC]

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) may be considered as a rescue attempt for highly selected patients with refractory cardiac arrest and potentially reversible etiology. Currently there are no randomized, controlled studies on eCPR, and valid predictors of benefit and outcome which might guide the indication for eCPR are lacking. Currently selection criteria and procedures differ across hospitals and standardized algorithms are lacking. Based on expert opinion, the present consensus statement provides a proposal for a standardized treatment algorithm for eCPR.

[Psychological care in German intensive care units : Results of a survey among the members of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine]

BACKGROUND

Psychological care should be provided in intensive care units (ICUs) because of the proven mental symptoms of patients and relatives. Even physicians and nurses can benefit from a corresponding care structure. Knowledge is lacking whether and how psychological care for patients and relatives as well as support for staff in German ICUs is implemented. For this reason, a survey was conducted among the members of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) to gain an overview of the current structures and the need for psychological support.

METHODS

The members of DIVI were invited to participate in a web-based survey. A total of 226 physicians and nurses took part in the survey. Analysis included statistics and group comparisons with Χ² methods.

RESULTS

In all care areas, psychological care of patients, relatives, and support for staff, respondents indicated a significant undersupply and expressed the need for improved care. A model which provides consular or team-integrated support based on the level of care is conceivable.

DISCUSSION

The current state of psychological care in German ICUs does not cover the existing need. Consequently the development of concepts and the beginning of discussions on how appropriate psychological care can be implemented in the future is necessary.

Need for psychological support in intensive care : A survey among members of the German Society of Medical Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

A high incidence of care-relevant psychological problems in critical care medicine has been reported among patients, their families and professional care givers. International guidelines give appropriate recommendations for such care. What is unclear, however, is just how the care and support are provided in day-to-day practice and, in particular, which service providers are responsible for this support. The present care situation was studied in a web-based survey (38% response rate) among all members of the German Society of Medical Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DGIIN). Most respondents reported a moderate to substantial need for psychological support of patients in intensive care and a substantial to very substantial need in the case of their family members. The need for support in the case of staff showed a relatively broad scatter in the assessment. Providers of care are mainly the members of the intensive care team themselves, while clinical pastoral counsellors in particular are also involved and, to a lesser extent, counselling or liaison services specializing in psychotherapy.

[Psychological care in the intensive care unit : Task areas, responsibilities, requirements, and infrastructure]

The relatively high rates of mental stress among critically ill patients and their relatives implies the necessity of conceptually and financially embedded psychological care in intensive care units (ICUs). Professional associations also recommend the involvement of psychological professionals and screening of mental symptoms in critically ill patients. Intensive care medicine psychologists and psychotherapists take this as an opportunity to describe the content and goals of psychological care. Task areas are care for patients and relatives as well as staff support. Goals of psychological support in the ICU are detection of mental symptoms in patients and their treatment, psychological first aid for relatives in crisis situations, and support of the staff in terms of communication with patients and relatives as well as regarding development and maintenance of an adaptive coping style for dealing with emotionally challenging situations. Psychological care in the ICU is offered by psychologists, psychotherapists, or physicians with a psychotherapeutic qualification. The psychologist is integrated into the ICU team and has a proactive, resource-oriented, and supportive orientation. Psychological support can be an enrichment and a relief, both in the interdisciplinary treatment of patients as well as in the care of relatives, and also represent a resource for the team.