European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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The aim of our study was to assess anxiety and depression in patients' relatives after a decision of withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatments. ⋯ We found symptoms of anxiety and depression in relatives after decisions of withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatments in emergency departments, which persist at 21 days. Further studies are needed to support these results and to search the relatives at risk to develop these symptoms.