Post-traumatic stress after PICU and corticosteriod use
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Aim To examine the association between corticosteroid use in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) and subsequent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Methods The subjects were children aged 8–16 years admitted to PICU with sepsis, meningoencephalitis (ME) and other disorders. Illness information was extracted from case notes; 3–6 months post discharge children completed a PTSD symptom questionnaire (eight-item Impact of Events Scale (IES-8)) assessing intrusion and avoidance symptoms. Saliva samples were also collected for cortisol profile analysis.
Results 53 children completed the IES-8 questionnaires. 33 provided saliva samples. 19 (36%) received corticosteroids. In children with sepsis (n=15), corticosteroid use was associated with significantly lower PTSD intrusion symptom scores. There was a trend towards an association between corticosteroid use and lower evening cortisol levels. There was a comparable but weaker trend in children with ME.
Methods The subjects were children aged 8–16 years admitted to PICU with sepsis, meningoencephalitis (ME) and other disorders. Illness information was extracted from case notes; 3–6 months post discharge children completed a PTSD symptom questionnaire (eight-item Impact of Events Scale (IES-8)) assessing intrusion and avoidance symptoms. Saliva samples were also collected for cortisol profile analysis.
Results 53 children completed the IES-8 questionnaires. 33 provided saliva samples. 19 (36%) received corticosteroids. In children with sepsis (n=15), corticosteroid use was associated with significantly lower PTSD intrusion symptom scores. There was a trend towards an association between corticosteroid use and lower evening cortisol levels. There was a comparable but weaker trend in children with ME.
Date Issued
2018-09-01
Date Acceptance
2017-11-09
Citation
Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2018, 103, pp.887-889
ISSN
1468-2044
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Start Page
887
End Page
889
Journal / Book Title
Archives of Disease in Childhood
Volume
103
Copyright Statement
© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.
Sponsor
Meningitis Research Foundation
Subjects
child
corticosteroids
paediatric intensive care
post-traumatic stress disorder
ptsd
1103 Clinical Sciences
1114 Paediatrics And Reproductive Medicine
1117 Public Health And Health Services
Pediatrics
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-11-25