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Trauma and Intensive Care

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Clinical Handbook of Psychological Consultation in Pediatric Medical Settings

Part of the book series: Issues in Clinical Child Psychology ((ICCP))

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Abstract

Children admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) experience a unique set of challenges which place them at risk for trauma reactions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Mental health clinicians who work in the PICU have the opportunity to support pediatric patients’ physical and emotional health. In addition, clinicians often can provide emotional support to family members and facilitate communication within the family and between the family and medical team. This chapter recommends potential differential diagnoses to consider when providing psychological care for children during their PICU hospitalization and post-discharge. In addition, the chapter reviews common medical conditions that require intensive care as well as medications that are often used in the PICU. The evidence base for psychological interventions implemented in the PICU is limited but promising: this chapter provides an overview of evidence to date and offers recommendation of interventions that can be adapted for use in the PICU. Guidance on inpatient consultations in the PICU, how best to engage with families who have a child in the PICU, and consultations post-discharge is provided.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, UK Health Care, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA

    Meghan L. Marsac & Amy Meadows

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, UK Health Care, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA

    Amy Meadows

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA

    Christine Kindler & Ashley McGar

Authors
  1. Meghan L. Marsac
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  2. Amy Meadows
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  3. Christine Kindler
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  4. Ashley McGar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meghan L. Marsac .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Consultation-Liaison Service, Norton Children’s Hospital, Louisville, KY, USA

    Bryan D. Carter

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA

    Bryan D. Carter

  3. Department of Pediatrics, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Kristin A. Kullgren

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Marsac, M.L., Meadows, A., Kindler, C., McGar, A. (2020). Trauma and Intensive Care. In: Carter, B.D., Kullgren, K.A. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Psychological Consultation in Pediatric Medical Settings. Issues in Clinical Child Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35598-2_19

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