Anxiety, depression and stress in family members of patients admitted to the intensive care units

Family members of patients hospitalized in intensive care unit experience high levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of assessing depression, anxiety and stress in the family members of patients hospitalized in the intensive care units of selected hospitals in Tehran, Iran

This was a cross-sectional study in which depression, anxiety and stress of 160 family members of patients hospitalized in the intensive care units were examined. The samples were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method (from February to December 2022). The data were collected using the Persian version of DASS-21 and were analyzed with descriptive statistics and linear regression model.

The results of the present study showed that the mean anxiety score of family members was 17.84(SD = 7.92), the average depression score was 17.49(SD = 8.34), and the average stress score was 18.35(SD = 7.50). The linear regression model simultaneously showed that for an increase of one year in age, the anxiety score of family members decreased by 0.11, and this decrease was significant (P<0.01). An increase of one year in age, the depression score in family members decreased by 0.09, and this decrease was significant (P<0.05). Also, an increase of one year in age, the stress score of family members decreased by 0.12, and this decrease was significant (P<0.05). There was no significant relationship between other demographic variables with depression, anxiety and stress.

The anxiety of the family members of patients admitted to the intensive care unit was severe and depression and stress were moderate. With increasing age, the level of depression, anxiety and stress of the patients' family members decreased. Nurses are working in intensive care unit can play an important role in educating families about these units and also providing psychological support to them.