RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Post-traumatic stress after PICU and corticosteroid use
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 887
OP 889
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2017-314157
VO 103
IS 9
A1 Georgina Corbet Burcher
A1 Maria D Picouto
A1 Lorraine C Als
A1 Mehrengise Cooper
A1 Christine M Pierce
A1 Simon Nadel
A1 M Elena Garralda
YR 2018
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/103/9/887.abstract
AB Aim To examine the association between corticosteroid use in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) and subsequent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods The subjects were children aged 8–16 years admitted to PICU with sepsis, meningoencephalitis (ME) and other disorders. Illness information was extracted from case notes; 3–6 months post discharge children completed a PTSD symptom questionnaire (eight-item Impact of Events Scale (IES-8)) assessing intrusion and avoidance symptoms. Saliva samples were also collected for cortisol profile analysis.Results 53 children completed the IES-8 questionnaires. 33 provided saliva samples. 19 (36%) received corticosteroids. In children with sepsis (n=15), corticosteroid use was associated with significantly lower PTSD intrusion symptom scores. There was a trend towards an association between corticosteroid use and lower evening cortisol levels. There was a comparable but weaker trend in children with ME.Discussion Corticosteroid use may be associated with fewer PTSD symptoms and lower evening cortisol levels following PICU admission in children with sepsis.