Consciousness, Critical Illness, ICU, Near Death Experience
Conditions
Keywords
near-death experience, out-of-body experience
Brief summary
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.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTThe Near-Death Experience Content (NDE-C) scale
Questionnaire to detect occurence of NDE. A NDE is identified if score \> or = 27/80
OTHERThreat perception measure
7 items scale investigating the participant's psychological vulnerability during their stay at the ICU
OTHERInterview about the participant's memories of the ICU
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.
Sponsors
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege
University of Liege
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Detection of potential episodes of connected consciousness | Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after) | Explicit recall of environmental/external stimuli in the ICU |
| Detection of potential episodes of disconnected consciousness | Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after) | Near-death experience (using the Near-Death Experience Content scale, min-max: 0-80, with ≥27/80 indicating the presence of a NDE); dream |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Risk factors | Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after) | (Neuro)physiological marker |
| Psychological vulnerability during the stay at the ICU | Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after) | 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 |
| Psychological impact of the stay at the ICU | At a 6 month follow-up after discharge from 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? |
Countries
Belgium
Contacts
Primary ContactCharlotte Martial, PhD
Outcome results
None listed