Psychology in Pedro Ernesto University Hospital intensive care unit

Abstract

The intensive care unit (ICU) is an environment for health care able to generate emotional situations that can intervene in the patient evolution. Care is offered through complex treatments to patients that present serious medical situation, in order to assure the survival and to improve better health conditions. Besides their physical weakness patients are submitted to important stress. Some are often maintained in a state of sedation and, during the period of progressive recovery of consciousness, they are exposed to various extremely difficult factors from an emotional point of view, causing psychiatric syndromes quite prevalent and requiring specialized attention. The hospitalization of a family member disrupts the family dynamic, addittionally, if hospitalization occurs in the ICU, the situation is even more complex because the ICU itself symbolizes the imminent risk of death. The problems that come from the environmental characteristics of the unit, the patient care, the need for a solid basis of knowledge and the difficulties on interpersonal communication increase the emotional charge on the healthcare team. This causes anxiety responses, depression and the development of defense mechanisms to deal with conflict situations. The introduction of the psychologist in this environment aims to identify and act on aspects that can intervene on the patient adaptation in the hospitalization period and his recuperation. Medical Psychology Service of General ICU of the Pedro Ernesto University Hospital aims at identifying and supporting emotional aspects of patients and families in order to contribute to a proper evolution of these individuals, as well as to promote a good communication between people involved in the process, in order to improve the better relations and the comfort of everybody.