Introduction:

Covid-19 pandemic has led to a restructuring of healthcare and hospital psychologists to offer emotional support in emergency environments. Experiencing illness in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with the need for Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (IMV) aggravated the psychological impacts caused by stressors of hospitalization.

Objective:

aim to elucidate the psychological and psychiatric manifestations in COVID-19 patients undergoing IMV in the COVID-19 ICU.

Method:

This quantitative, retrospective study examined electronic medical records of patients undergoing IMV in the COVID-19 ICU. Of the 664 records analyzed, 40 were validated for this research.

Results:

57.5% of patients had anxiety symptoms, 55% depressive symptoms and 30% cognitive alterations. Hypothymic mood (50%), panic attacks (42.7%) and intrusive thoughts (20%) were most frequently reported symptoms. There was a statistical correlation between some variables and symptoms: irritability, easy crying, demotivation, anhedonia and altered speech.

Conclusion:

This study showed the complexity of psychological and psychiatric symptoms in patients undergoing IMV in the COVID-19 ICU, highlighting the importance of comprehensive care, the work of psychologists and the urgent need to develop specific psychological protocols. Further studies are suggested to investigate additional and complementary aspects to the results obtained.

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