Critical Care Anxiety and Long-Term Outcomes Management

The aims of this study are to (1) test the benefits of a non-pharmacologic anxiety management approach with patients who are critically ill and/or traumatically injured during intensive care hospitalization and (2) test whether this approach reduces anxiety and improves engagement in rehabilitation therapies, shortens duration of hospitalization, and improves psychological and quality of life outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or older
• Ability to read, write, and speak English
• Alert (Best RASS ICU sedation score ≥-2)
• Current CAM-ICU test negative
• Expected ICU stay ≥48 hours
• Anxiety Visual Analog Scale (VAS-A) score ≥30
• Prescribed rehabilitation therapy at eligibility

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to communicate (verbally, or via hand writing/gestures)
• Greater than 90% probability of mortality in hospital
• Anticipated discharge to hospice or transition to end-of-life care
• Pre-existing cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia, pervasive developmental disorder)