Overview of psychiatric epidemiologic issues in intensive care units

Psychiatric problems are common in ICUs, owing both to the critical illness seen in this setting and to the high-technology care applied to these cond itions, Although depression, anxiety, and fear of death occur in all types of ICUs, some psychiatric disturbances complicate care in some ICUs more co mmonly than in others. This article presents a brief history of the develop ment of ICUs and discusses this differential representation of psychopathol ogy in general, surgical, coronary, respiratory, burn, and pediatric ICUs.