Psychological Complications in ICU Patients and Efficacy of a Comprehensive Therapeutic Program

Throughout the current literature on patients receiving long term care in the intensive care unit (ICU) there is a pattern of psychological complications related to the minimal therapeutic support provided to the patients. There is a lack of stimulation, mental health resources, and health-promotion activities provided to critical care patients. Mental health affects how people think, act, and feel towards both themselves and others. This increased prevalence of psychological complications in post discharged ICU patients can lead to a delayed recovery process, additional diagnoses, and a negative impact of a patient's activities of daily life. The purpose of this literature review focused on how specialized therapeutic support programs designed for ICU patients can reduce the incidence of psychological complications within one year of discharge. Articles related to critical care patients, psychological complications, patient’s over the age of 18, and articles from 2019 to 2025 were included in the research. Articles were excluded if not directly related to ICU stays or articles that were about patients under the age of 18 helped avoiding any pediatric critical care and medical-surgical care crossovers. Recommendations that came from the literature review suggest that implementation of support systems were feasible in reducing risk of psychological complications. Specific systems like ICU diaries and POPPI psychological intervention overall improved patient outcomes post-discharge. Emphasizing the importance of supporting ICU patients' mental health through implementation of therapeutic interventions will reduce the risk of psychological complications after discharge.