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Intensive Care Medicine
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine 4/2008

Open Access 01-04-2008 | Original

Factors associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in a prospective cohort of patients after abdominal sepsis: a nomogram

Authors: Kimberly R. Boer, Oddeke van Ruler, Arnold A. P. van Emmerik, Mirjam A. Sprangers, Sophia E. de Rooij, Margreeth B. Vroom, Corianne A. J. M. de Borgie, Marja A. Boermeester, Johannes B. Reitsma, The Dutch Peritonitis Study Group

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 4/2008

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Abstract

Objective

To determine to what extent patients who have survived abdominal sepsis suffer from symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and to identify potential risk factors for PTSD symptoms.

Design and setting

PTSD and depression symptoms were measured using the Impact of Events Scale–Revised (IES-R), the Post-Traumatic Symptom Scale 10 (PTSS-10) and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II).

Patients and participants

A total of 135 peritonitis patients were eligible for this study, of whom 107 (80%) patients completed the questionnaire. The median APACHE-II score was 14 (range 12–16), and 89% were admitted to the ICU.

Measurements and results

The proportion of patients with “moderate” PTSD symptom scores was 28% (95% CI 20–37), whilst 10% (95% CI 6–17) of patients had “high” PTSD symptom scores. Only 5% (95% CI 2–12) of the patients expressed severe depression symptoms. Factors associated with increased PTSD symptoms in a multivariate ordinal regression model were younger age (0.74 per 10 years older, p = 0.082), length of ICU stay (OR = 1.4 per doubling of duration, p = 0.003) and having some (OR = 4.9, p = 0.06) or many (OR = 55.5, p < 0.001) traumatic memories of the ICU or hospital stay.

Conclusion

As many as 38% of patients after abdominal sepsis report elevated levels of PTSD symptoms on at least one of the questionnaires. Our nomogram may assist in identifying patients at increased risk for developing symptoms of PTSD.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Factors associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in a prospective cohort of patients after abdominal sepsis: a nomogram
Authors
Kimberly R. Boer
Oddeke van Ruler
Arnold A. P. van Emmerik
Mirjam A. Sprangers
Sophia E. de Rooij
Margreeth B. Vroom
Corianne A. J. M. de Borgie
Marja A. Boermeester
Johannes B. Reitsma
The Dutch Peritonitis Study Group
Publication date
01-04-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 4/2008
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-007-0941-3

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