Admission Psychosocial Characteristics of Critically Ill Children and Acute Stress*

Abstract

The current investigation is a novel evaluation of the prehospitalization psychosocial characteristics of children admitted to a PICU. The children enrolled reported high rates of acute stress, which was associated with a history of post-traumatic stress and worsened quality of life. The relation with post-traumatic stress is consistent with prior research into complex post-traumatic stress disorder and increases concerns about long-term psychosocial outcomes. Our data advance understanding of the factors contributing to acute stress during hospitalizations and may add to recognizing the importance of models integrating psychosocial support.