Fatores associados à ocorrência de sintomas ansiosos e depressivos de pacientes sobreviventes de doenças críticas

Abstract

Introduction: Admission to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is associated with high levels of psychological stress, which may trigger or exacerbate depressive and anxiety symptoms in critical illness survivors. Previous studies indicate that up to 33% of patients develop mental disorders post-discharge, but there is a lack of data on specific contributing factors within Brazilian healthcare contexts. Objective: To investigate factors associated with the occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in critical illness survivors. Methods: A quantitative exploratory study was conducted with 20 adult patients from a university hospital, assessed using the PHQ-9 (depression) and GAD-7 (anxiety) scales. Sociodemographic, clinical, and ICU experience data were analyzed using statistical tests (t-test, chi-square; p ≤ 0.05). Results: 55% of patients exhibited depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and 65% showed anxiety symptoms (GAD-7). Significant factors included: In-hospital pain (p = 0.003) and poor pre-admission sleep quality (p = 0.012), both associated with anxiety. history of mental disorders (41% of sample), with symptom worsening in 31.58% of cases and previous alcohol/tobacco use showed a trend toward psychological deterioration (p = 0.061). Conclusion: The ICU environment and pre-existing conditions (such as pain and sleep disturbances) can be critical determinants of post-discharge mental health. Implementation of mental health screening protocols and follow-up monitoring from admission is strongly recommended.