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Chapter 14 - Psychological Care in the ICU and Hospital

from Section 3 - Strategies to Prevent PICS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2026

Brad W. Butcher
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania
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Summary

Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions create immense psychological challenges for patients and their loved ones. With increasing recognition of the psychological impact of an ICU admission, qualified psychologists have been incorporated into the care team both to address acute psychological stress during the admission and to help prevent continuing psychological difficulties after hospital discharge. This chapter describes the direct work that ICU psychologists do with patients, the support they provide for families, and other indirect ways they contribute to improving communication, psychological understanding, and the therapeutic environment in the ICU. Psychologists use a range of evidence-based approaches in their ICU work, including interventions based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Research into the most effective ways of delivering psychological interventions in the ICU is still in its infancy and should be prioritized now that psychological professionals are increasingly engaged with ICU teams.

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