Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Witnessing by a Relative

Interest for a Relative of Seeing Himself Proposing to Witness Resuscitation of a Family Member Victim of a Cardiac Arrest

The bereavement generated by the loss of a family member can induce pathological situations: depressive state, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and complicated grief. These morbid factors can be influenced by the death circumstances and in particular by the possibility given to the family to attend the medical management of the patient. This clinical trial aims to evaluate the psychological consequences of bereavement on the relatives according to the possibility of witnessing the cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a family member. This possibility lies within the scope of a strategy of global management of the relatives.

This clinical trial aims to compare the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder on a relative related to the death of a family member:

Test group: the medical team will propose to the relative to witness the cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Control group: the medical team will not modify its usual management of care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient victim of a cardiac arrest and resuscitation initiated

• Occurrence of cardiac arrest at home

• Presence of a relative :

  • husband or spouse
  • father or mother
  • son or daughter
  • brother or sister

• Patient's age ≥ 18 years

• Relative's age ≥ 18 years

• Consent of the relative to the participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• No understanding of the explanations (language problem, important agitation)
• Non-affiliated to social security