<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<sec id="j_jccm-2022-0014_s_005">
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>Increasing awareness of the emotional impact of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) hospitalization on patients and their families has led to a rise in studies seeking to mitigate Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) for both groups. In efforts to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, ICUs have implemented a variety of programs to reduce family distress.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jccm-2022-0014_s_006">
<h3>Methods</h3>
<p>We conducted a systematic review of experimental studies which aimed to reduce stress related disorders in family members after the experience of having a patient admitted to the ICU. Multiple databases were searched for randomized controlled trials or nonrandomized comparative trials which targeted family members or surrogate decision makers. A total of 17 studies were identified for inclusion in the review representing 3471 participants.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jccm-2022-0014_s_007">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>We describe those interventions which we qualitatively assigned as “not passive,” or those which actively engaged the family to express themselves, as more likely to be successful in both the available pediatric and adult literature than interventions which we identified as “passive.” Studies which described active engagement of family members demonstrated comparative improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as reduced hospital costs in the case of two studies.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jccm-2022-0014_s_008">
<h3>Discussion</h3>
<p>This review may serve to aid in the development of future interventions targeted at reducing family stress and PICS following an ICU hospitalization.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Background
Increasing awareness of the emotional impact of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) hospitalization on patients and their families has led to a rise in studies seeking to mitigate Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) for both groups. In efforts to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, ICUs have implemented a variety of programs to reduce family distress.

Methods
We conducted a systematic review of experimental studies which aimed to reduce stress related disorders in family members after the experience of having a patient admitted to the ICU. Multiple databases were searched for randomized controlled trials or nonrandomized comparative trials which targeted family members or surrogate decision makers. A total of 17 studies were identified for inclusion in the review representing 3471 participants.

Results
We describe those interventions which we qualitatively assigned as “not passive,” or those which actively engaged the family to express themselves, as more likely to be successful in both the available pediatric and adult literature than interventions which we identified as “passive.” Studies which described active engagement of family members demonstrated comparative improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as reduced hospital costs in the case of two studies.

Discussion
This review may serve to aid in the development of future interventions targeted at reducing family stress and PICS following an ICU hospitalization.

Intensive Care Based Interventions to Reduce Family Member Stress Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The Journal of Critical Care Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Background
Increasing awareness of the emotional impact of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) hospitalization on patients and their families has led to a rise in...

Intensive Care Based Interventions to Reduce Family Member Stress Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Aug 12, 2022

Page range: 145 - 155

Received: Oct 14, 2021

Accepted: Jun 07, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jccm-2022-0014

Keywords
stress disorder, PICS-F, intensive care, family care

© 2022 Sarah Love Rhoads, Thomas A. Trikalinos, Mitchell M. Levy, Timothy Amass, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Intensive Care Based Interventions to Reduce Family Member Stress Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Aug 12, 2022

Page range: 145 - 155

Received: Oct 14, 2021

Accepted: Jun 07, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jccm-2022-0014

Keywordsstress disorder, PICS-F, intensive care, family care

© 2022 Sarah Love Rhoads, Thomas A. Trikalinos, Mitchell M. Levy, Timothy Amass, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
stress disorder, PICS-F, intensive care, family care