PATIENT, FAMILY, NURSING STAFF AND INTENS IVE-CARE UNITY

An increasing interest in psychological and interactional aspects of i ntensive care unit stay is found in the recent literature. On one hand seriousness and acuteness of the pathology, on the other hand environ ment specificity as well as their respective consequences result in th e fact that the ICU is a peculiar context for the patient and his fami ly. The patient experiences a stressful event which probably differs f rom the one experienced in other types of wards. The family and its ne eds during this critical period are the focus of an increasing number of studies. A corresponding occupational stress for the caregivers is now widely acknowledged.