B. Soc Sci (Hons), M.Phil, Ph.D
Clinical Psychologist in Critical Care, Torbay Hospital

Patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) may present with a range of associated psychological difficulties.

During the admission these can include:

anxiety
depression
hallucinations
delusions
delirium
terror
withdrawal
cognitive disturbances

Post hospital discharge there are reports of patients still presenting with these difficulties as well as problems in:

sexual function
mood disorder
memory
post traumatic symptoms
family adjustment

All patients admitted to hospital will have memories of their treatment, not all will be distressing and certainly not all will necessarily have adverse psychological effects. However up to 38% of patients discharged from a Critical Care Unit report disturbances in psychological functioning.

Below are a selection of articles pertaining to some of the psychological disturbances encountered during and recovering from critical illness.


	Delirium on the ICU
	PTSD
	Anxiety and Depression
	Environmental factors on ICU
	Sleep and noise on the ICU
	Sensory factors on the ICU

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