Recall and memory after intensive care unit stay.: Development of posttraumatic stress disorder

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The intensive care unit (ICU) confers a stress on patients and may affect the memory. The aim of the study was to examine the memory after critical care and the relationship with therapy and the development of posttraumatic stress disorder. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospectively study conducted between December 2001 and June 2003. Patients were excluded if language difficulties or had a neurologic or psychiatric disease. We collected data on gender and age, length of stay in the ICU, severity of acute illness, diagnoses and medical treatment with mechanical ventilation, propofol, midazolam and dopamine during the ICU stay. 12 months after ICU eligible patients were contacted to assess memory. The ICUM (intensive Care Memory) tool and IES (Impact Event Scale) were used to assess memory and posttraumatic stress disorder. RESULTS: A total of 169 patients were included. The incidence of memory was 77.6%. 41 patients recalled delusional memories and these patients had higher IES after discharge. The logistic regression suggested a relationship with propofol, dopamine and length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: ICU treatment may be related more to recall of delusions. The delusional memory is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms after ICU.