• Helle Svenningsen, Ingrid Egerod, Doris Christensen, Else Kirstine Tønnesen, Morten Frydenberg, and Poul Videbech.
• Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, VIA University College, Hedeager 2, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
• Biomed Res Int. 2015 Jan 1; 2015: 876947.

IntroductionLong-term psychological consequences of critical illness are receiving more attention in recent years. The aim of our study was to assess the correlation of ICU-delirium and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) anxiety and depression after ICU-discharge in a Danish cohort.MethodsA prospective observational cohort study assessing the incidence of delirium in the ICU. Psychometrics were screened by validated tools in structured telephone interviews after 2 months (n = 297) and 6 months (n = 248) after ICU-discharge.ResultsDelirium was detected in 54% of patients in the ICU and symptoms of PTSD in 8% (2 months) and 6% (6 months) after ICU-discharge. Recall of ICU stay was present in 93%. Associations between ICU-delirium and post-discharge PTSD-symptoms were weak and insignificant. Memories of delusions were significantly associated with anxiety after two months. Remaining associations between types of ICU-memories and prevalence of post-discharge symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression were insignificant after adjusting for age. Incidence of ICU-delirium was unaffected by preadmission use of psychotropic drugs. Prevalence of PTSD-symptoms was unaffected by use of antipsychotics and sedation in the ICU.ConclusionICU-delirium did not increase the risk of PTSD-symptoms at 2 and 6 months after ICU discharge.

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