Psychological care in ICU focused on health providers and family members of patients in the COVID 19 pandemic

Abstract

Currently, research emphasizes psychological support for families and health care provid-ers in the critical care unit, rather than patient care in each of the phases associated with the disease. In this article, we use the clinical case of a patient with COVID-19, critically ill, with multiple complications that lead to the discussion and proposal of protocols for comprehensive psychological care to patients, their families, and health care providers in critical care units. It is crucial, in the efforts required to achieve patient’s recovery and medical discharge, to integrate the patient into psychological care programs. Many of the sensations and emotions experienced in the ICU could produce physical reactions that hin-der the patient’s hemodynamic stability and recovery process. Few studies have been found on the usefulness of psychological or psychiatric care for patients with severe or critical COVID-19. Most of the recently reported studies are focused on psychological care for fam-ilies and health care providers.