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Need for psychological support in intensive care

A survey among members of the German Society of Medical Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

Psychologischer Versorgungsbedarf in der Intensivmedizin

Eine Umfrage bei Mitgliedern der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internistische Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin

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Abstract

A high incidence of care-relevant psychological problems in critical care medicine has been reported among patients, their families and professional care givers. International guidelines give appropriate recommendations for such care. What is unclear, however, is just how the care and support are provided in day-to-day practice and, in particular, which service providers are responsible for this support. The present care situation was studied in a web-based survey (38% response rate) among all members of the German Society of Medical Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DGIIN). Most respondents reported a moderate to substantial need for psychological support of patients in intensive care and a substantial to very substantial need in the case of their family members. The need for support in the case of staff showed a relatively broad scatter in the assessment. Providers of care are mainly the members of the intensive care team themselves, while clinical pastoral counsellors in particular are also involved and, to a lesser extent, counselling or liaison services specializing in psychotherapy.

Zusammenfassung

Im Kontext der Intensivmedizin ist ein hohes Vorkommen versorgungsrelevanter psychischer Belastungen bei Patienten, deren Angehörigen und professionellen Helfern beschrieben. Internationale Leitlinien geben entsprechende Empfehlungen zur Versorgung. Unklar ist allerdings, wie die Versorgung in der täglichen Praxis umgesetzt wird, insbesondere welche Leistungserbringer hierfür zuständig sind. Die derzeitige Versorgungssituation wurde in einer webbasierten Umfrage (38 % Rücklaufrate) unter allen Mitgliedern der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internistische Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin (DGIIN) überprüft. Die Mehrzahl der Befragten gab an, dass ein moderater bis hoher psychologischer Versorgungsbedarf bei Intensivpatienten bzw. ein hoher bis sehr hoher Bedarf bei ihren Angehörigen besteht. Der Unterstützungsbedarf bei Mitarbeitern wies in der Einschätzung eine breitere Streuung auf. Leistungserbringer der Versorgung sind vor allem die Mitglieder des Intensivteams selber, wobei vor allem Klinikseelsorger und in einem geringeren Ausmaß psychotherapeutisch spezialisierte Konsil- oder Liaisondienste mit eingebunden werden.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all members of the German Society of Medical Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DGIIN).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany

    A. Niecke M.D.

  2. Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    C. Hartog

  3. Klinik Bavaria, Kreischa, Germany

    C. Hartog

  4. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital of Jena, Jena, Germany

    T. Deffner

  5. Department for Cardiology, St. Antonius Hospital, Eschweiler, Germany

    U. Janssens

  6. Department III of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    G. Michels

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  1. A. Niecke M.D.
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  2. C. Hartog
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  3. T. Deffner
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  4. U. Janssens
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  5. G. Michels
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Correspondence to A. Niecke M.D..

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Conflict of interest

A. Niecke, C. Hartog, T. Deffner, U. Janssens and G. Michels declare that they have no competing interests.

The authors did not conduct any studies with human or animal participants for this article. Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the survey.

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Niecke, A., Hartog, C., Deffner, T. et al. Need for psychological support in intensive care. Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed 115, 135–139 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00063-018-0523-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00063-018-0523-x

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