Pain in patients in critical condition and its environment

Abstract

It is known that pain is the most disturbing symptom-syndrome in patients in any context of medical therapy, so the comprehensive critical care (biological–psychological–social–spiritual) approach should be adequately addressed in the patient–family–healthcare team triad when structuring major therapeutic care. Health status, as well as admission to the High Dependency Unit and/or Intensive Care Unit represents an event often accompanied by dependency, uncertainty, fear, multiple losses, vulnerability, suffering and near-death experiences. Patients in intensive care often experience multiple and recurrent acute stressors, where their response and ability to cope depend on a variety of neuropsychological, cognitive, emotional, and social functions and the support that is given to them in these areas.