PTSD in the ICU: Outcome

So Nick and I met approximately eight occasions, with a couple of other appointments for longer term follow-up. The hallucinations that Nick was experiencing could be easily explained by reviewing the patient diary, and speaking to the staff involved in his care, and to the family that was around him at that time. His hallucinations of seen blood dripping down the wall, detergent the cleaner was using. The faceless staff he saw, they were wearing surgical masks. The belief that he was on a boat, he saw white plumes of smoke from the hospital heating system. The belief staff were being flown in-and-out, the hospital was underneath the Glasgow Airport flight path.

He engaged incredibly well with psychological therapy, and made huge gains and benefits from his regular attendance at my clinic. He has since gone on to become a patient mentor, and talks to all our current transplant recipients, and those waiting for transplant to let them know what they should expect, and how best to cope with the various challenges and demands of transplantation and an admission to ICU. [UPBEAT MUSIC]