A recent study reveals a higher risk of mental illness in children treated in intensive care units, emphasizing the need for prevention strategies.
- Children and teenagers who have been treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) may have a higher risk of developing mental illnesses later in life.
- A study found that survivors of ICU treatment had increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major depression.
- Those who stayed in the ICU for three days or more were at higher risk of developing these mental disorders.
- The risk of specific mental illnesses varied based on the condition that led the child to the ICU, such as respiratory diseases, blood diseases, nervous system disorders, and digestive illnesses.
- Doctors can use this information to develop screening and prevention strategies for high-risk groups among child and adolescent ICU survivors.
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Critical Care, Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Mental Health