Pre-Admission Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screening for Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur in patients after a life-threatening event. PTSD can affect the course of treatment and overall patient well-being for those who require hospitalization. While PTSD screenings may occur in the primary care setting long after the initial injury or disease, screening for PTSD is rarely used during patient admission to the critical care unit. In one healthcare institution, a tool was created to assess for PTSD for patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Results displayed that the tool was feasible and easy to complete. Additionally, this project showed that a substantial number of patients in the critical care setting screened positive for PTSD risk and could benefit from early mental health intervention. Therefore, early intervention through PTSD screening can lead to favorable outcomes such as improved patient health outcomes, earlier discharge, and lower costs of treatment.