Psychological distress and delusional memories after critical care: a literature review.
Summary of "Psychological distress and delusional memories after critical care: a literature review."
KIEKKAS P., THEODORAKOPOULOU G., SPYRATOS F. & BALTOPOULOS G.I. (2010) Psychological distress and delusional memories after critical care: a literature review. International Nursing Review57, 288-296 Background: A considerable number of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors report delusional memories, which refer to dreams, nightmares, paranoid delusions and hallucinations experienced in the ICU. These memories often have a strong vividness, long duration and high emotional impact. Aim: The aim of this review was to investigate and synthesize published literature about psychological distress associated with delusional memories of adult ICU survivors. Methods: Using key terms, a search was conducted in major health care electronic databases [Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, Web of Science and PsycInfo] focusing on articles published between 1990 and 2009 in English-language journals. Findings: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Recall of delusional memories at various intervals after ICU discharge was associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related symptoms in many studies, while associations with other aspects of psychological distress, mainly feelings of fear, anxiety and depression, were also reported. Recent studies did not seem to confirm the protective role of factual memories. Conclusions: The findings support the association between delusional memories and PTSD-related symptoms, but further research is needed to confirm their association with other psychological disorders. Development of a safety sense in the ICU can protect patients against the emotional impact of both delusional and stressful factual ICU memories. Appropriate follow-up of high-risk patients could improve their long-term psychological recovery.
Affiliation
Grade B Nurse, Patras Specialized Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases, Patras, Greece.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: International nursing review
ISSN: 1466-7657
Pages: 288-96
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20796057
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2010.00809.x
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Critical Care
Health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis.
Paranoid Disorders
Chronic mental disorders in which there has been an insidious development of a permanent and unshakeable delusional system (persecutory delusions or delusions of jealousy), accompanied by preservation of clear and orderly thinking. Emotional responses and behavior are consistent with the delusional state.
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
Disturbances in sexual desire and the psychophysiologic changes that characterize the sexual response cycle and cause marked distress and interpersonal difficulty. (APA, DSM-IV, 1994)
Pediatric Nursing
The nursing care of children from birth to adolescence. It includes the clinical and psychological aspects of nursing care.
Review Literature As Topic
Published materials which provide an examination of recent or current literature. Review articles can cover a wide range of subject matter at various levels of completeness and comprehensiveness based on analyses of literature that may include research findings. The review may reflect the state of the art. It also includes reviews as a literary form.
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