The Impact of PICU Diaries on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Psychological Distress in Parents of Critically Ill Children Admitted to PICUs: A Randomized Cluster Crossover Trial
In brief
PICU diaries cut caregivers' PTSD symptoms by 42% in a trial
In a cluster crossover trial at four Brazilian PICUs, diaries completed by staff, parents, and visitors were linked to 42% fewer caregiver PTSD symptoms and 25% less anxiety and/or depression 60 days after discharge. The findings support diaries as a low-cost family support strategy, but outcomes were screened symptoms, not confirmed diagnoses, and longer-term effects remain unknown.
- Journal
- Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies (Q1)
- Published
- 5 October 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Fernanda de Carvalho Lima, Michael Eduardo Reichenheim, Maria Clara de Magalhães-Barbosa, Evandro da Silva Freire Coutinho, Antonio Ponce de Leon, Pedro Henrique Nunes Costa Silami, et al.
- PMID
- 42831730
- DOI
- 10.1097/PCC.0000000000004059
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Pediatrics and Child Health (paper of the day, 6 October 2026): PICU diaries reduce caregiver PTSD
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to assess the effect of using diaries during hospitalization in a PICU on the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychologic distress among family members of critically ill children. DESIGN: A two-arm, two-period, cluster-randomized, crossover trial. SETTINGS: Four PICUs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PATIENTS: From December 2019 to December 2021, the primary caregiver of each child (age 29 d to 12 yr) admitted to the participant PICUs for more than 36 hours was enrolled in the trial. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention consisted of providing diaries for the healthcare team, parents, and visitors to complete, including photographs of events during hospitalization. The standard practice served as the control group. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcomes were the incidence of PTSD and psychologic distress in the primary caregiver 60 days after PICU discharge. PTSD was screened using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) instrument, and psychologic distress was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score. Of the 431 primary caregivers included, 339 were analyzed for PTSD, and 335 for psychologic distress. The use of diaries resulted in an average decrease of 2.97 points in the total PCL-5 score (p = 0.012) and a 42% reduction in the incidence of PTSD symptoms (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.58; p < 0.001). Diaries also reduced the incidence of psychologic distress (anxiety and/or depression symptoms) by 25% among the intervention group (IRR, 0.75; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: This trial reinforces the potential of PICU diaries as a family-centered intervention to reduce the incidence of PTSD symptoms and psychologic distress among caregivers of critically ill children. Given their low-cost, pragmatic nature, PICU diaries may represent a promising strategy for supporting family mental health in the PICU setting.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.