Critically ill children hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) are especially vulnerable to a multitude of short - and long - term, negative
emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes, including a higher risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a greater
need for psychiatric treatment, compared with matched hospitalized children who do not require intensive care.3 In addition, the parents of these children are at risk for the development of PTSD, as well as other negative
emotional outcomes (
eg, depression and anxiety disorders).4 — 6