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Objective: To study posttraumatic stress in patients after treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This prospective cohort study included 136 adult patients with critical medical and surgical problems who were discharged from the ICU of the Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong. Their occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression after ICU treatment were measured using the Impact of Event Scale--Revised and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Patient ICU experience was measured using the ICU Memory Tool. Multivariable analyses were conducted to examine the predictors of PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Results: Symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression were reported in 10% to 17% of patients. Symptom severity was associated with less factual memory, more vivid memory of feelings about and more delusional memory of the ICU experience, low emotional support, and high perceived life threat. Conclusions: Symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depression may occur after ICU treatment. Early identification and appropriate intervention for PTSD are important for rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A Psychological Well-being Scale for Caregivers (PWS-C) was developed to screen for psychological distress among family caregivers in a Palliative Care Unit for patients with advanced cancer. Methods: To study the psychometric properties of the 11-item PWS-C which consisted of 5 subscales; 132 family caregivers completed the PWS-C, of whom 70 also answered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Results of 15 caregivers who had received psychological intervention and completed the PWS-C before and after treatment were compared. Results: The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the scale were found to be satisfactory. A 4-factor structure was identified. Items for Life Meaning and Social Support subscales were accounted for by 1 factor. The subscales of Emotional Distress, Caregiving Inadequacy, and Hospital Care were accounted for by 3 other factors. The PWS-C subscale scores were moderately correlated with HADS scores. Significant changes in the subscales of Social Support and Life Meaning of the PWS-C were identified in pre-post treatment comparisons, which indicated the potential utility of the scale as an outcome measure. Conclusions: The PWS-C could be a reliable and valid tool useful for screening and measuring the outcome of psychological interventions for psychological well-being / distress reduction, for caregivers of patients receiving palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Children's Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Participants and Methods: Sixty one children (aged 8 to 17 years) who attended the hospital accident and emergency service after road traffic accidents participated in the study. The Children's Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Children's Depression Inventory, and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale completed by the children 1 month after the road traffic accidents were studied. Results: A 3-factor structure accounting for 72% of the variance was identified for the 11-item Children's Impact of Event Scale-Revised. The test-retest reliability was satisfactory; the moderate correlations between the Children's Impact of Event Scale-Revised scores (i.e. intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal), Children's Depression Inventory, and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale supported the validity of the Children's Impact of Event Scale-Revised as a measure of post-traumatic stress in children. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis support generalisation of the post-traumatic stress disorder framework for the present sample of Chinese children. Conclusions: The 11-item Children's Impact of Event Scale-Revised has satisfactory psychometric properties as a screening instrument for stress responses after traumatic incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]