Episodes of (Dis)Connected Consciousness in ICU Survivors

University of Liege200 enrolled

Overview

This single-center observational study aims to describe the incidence of episodes of connected consciousness and disconnected consciousness (including near-death experience (NDE) and out-of-body experiences) in patients who survived a prolonged stay of at least 7 days in the intensive care unit (ICU) and who had at least one episode of pharmacological or non-pharmacological coma. The investigators are also investigating the risk factors related to these episodes of consciousness. A follow-up at six months aims to explore the long-term psychological implications of these episodes.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

200

Conditions

Consciousness Near Death Experience ICU Critical Illness

Interventions

The Near-Death Experience Content (NDE-C) scale

Interview about the participant's memories of the ICUOTHER

Participants will be asked to describe any dream, hallucination, or any other unusual experience they can recall from their stay at the ICU. Additionally, the participants will be asked to describe any memory they have of the environment of the ICU, such as the appearance of the room, medical staff, family visiting, noises, etc.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients who survived a ≥7 days stay in the intensive care unit * Experienced a pharmacological or non-pharmacological episode of loss of consciousness * French speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Refusal * Chronic disorder of consciousness * Confusion or delirium * Deafness * Blindness * Aphasia

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Detection of potential episodes of disconnected consciousness

Near-death experience (using the Near-Death Experience Content scale, min-max: 0-80, with ≥27/80 indicating the presence of a NDE); dream

Time frame: Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after)

Detection of potential episodes of connected consciousness

Explicit recall of environmental/external stimuli in the ICU

Time frame: Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after)

Secondary Outcomes

Risk factors

(Neuro)physiological marker

Time frame: Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after)

Psychological vulnerability during the stay at the ICU

Using the Threat Perception Measure, a scale that contains 7 items related to feelings and anxieties perceived by the patient, each scored from 1 to 4, ranging from 1 "Not at all", 2 "A little", 3 "Moderately", and 4 "Extremely", as well as a "don 't remember" category. Min-max: 7-28, with higher scores indicating a higher level of perceived threat

Time frame: Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after)

Psychological impact of the stay at the ICU

Any patient who stayed at least 7 days at the ICU is invited to a 6 month follow-up during which they will be presented Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, min-max: 0-42, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome, i.e., more severe symptoms of anxiety or depression), to assess anxiety and depression as well as the Post-Traumatic Stress Assessment Questionnaire (IES-R, min-max: 0-88, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome, i.e., more severe post-traumatic stress symptoms). The investigators will be asking two additional questions to investigate a possible impact on the patient's beliefs. * Question 1: "Since your stay in intensive care, have your beliefs/opinions changed regarding death?". * Question 2: "Has your stay in intensive care modified your fear of health care institutions?

Time frame: At a 6 month follow-up after discharge from the ICU

Episodes of (Dis)Connected Consciousness in ICU Survivors

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

Central Contacts