Psychological Problems in the Family Members of Gravely Traumatised Patients Admitted Into an Intensive Care Unit

The psychological repercussions on the closest members of families of 76 gravely traumatised patients admitted into an Intensive Care Unit in Seville, Spain were analyzed. Results showed that: 1) more than 50% of family members showed symptoms of depression; 2) 75.3% of the sample had suicidal thoughts, with women having higher scores of suicidal depression; & 3) in general terms, the psychological characteristics of the families were far from the norm of a comparative control group. (10 refs.)