Aging and Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS): A Critical Need for Geriatric Psychiatry

Abstract

Due to the aging of the intensive care unit (ICU) population and an improvement in survival rates after ICU hospitalization, an increasing number of older adults are suffering from long-term impairments due to critical illness, known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). This paper focuses on PICS-related cognitive, psychological, and physical impairments, and the impact of ICU hospitalization on families and caregivers. The authors also describe innovative models of care for PICS, and what roles geriatric psychiatrists could play in the future of this rapidly growing population.