Hypnosis to Improve Well-beings of Critically Ill Patients and Prevent Post-intensive Care Syndrome

Critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) face numerous challenges both acutely and in the long term. These patients frequently experience acute pain and anxiety due to intubation and induced comas. Following their ICU discharge, they commonly report decreased well-being and quality of life. Additionally, up to 40% of critically ill patients develop post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which includes mental, physical, and cognitive sequelae that can persist up to one year after discharge. Heavy sedation and medications necessary to manage pain and anxiety are known risk factors for PICS.

The current standard of care in the ICU includes mobilization and nutrition, pain control, and family engagement and empowerment. Furthermore, no other specific interventions are aimed at improving long-term outcomes and preventing PICS.

Several studies have explored using hypnosis to improve the acute care of ICU patients. For instance, a pain protocol that included hypnosis in burn patients hospitalized in the CHUV (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois) resulted in reduced pain intensity, reduced opioid use, reduced anxiety, and better wound outcomes, all while lowering costs. A pilot study involving non-invasive ventilation patients showed that hypnosis could improve comfort, mask tolerance, and anxiety levels. Additionally, studies on relaxation therapy have indicated that electronic relaxation therapy is a promising, safe, and effective non-pharmacological solution to enhance overall comfort in alert and non-delirious ICU patients.

However, despite these efforts, there is a lack of efficient interventions specifically targeting the wellbeing of patients after an ICU stay and the prevention of PICS. Existing interventions, such as follow-up programs, rehabilitation, and psychological follow-up, have shown conflicting results. To date, no studies have specifically assessed the effect of hypnosis on the short and longer-term well-being of critically ill patients leaving the ICU and its possible effect on the prevention of PICS.

The investigators hypothesize that providing a hypnosis session at ICU discharge and followed by subsequent sessions on days 7 and 14 on the ward will improve well-being in the short term and reduce PICS symptoms at 3-months. The primary outcome will be the assessment of well-being at day 28 post-ICU discharge. Secondary outcomes will be anxiety, depression, PTSD, and quality of life at three months.

Hypothesis and primary objective The investigators hypothesize that providing intervention with hypnosis at ICU discharge and subsequent sessions on day 7 and 14 on the ward if the patient remains in the hospital will improve wellbeing at day 28 and reduce PICS symptoms at three months in critically ill patients.

Primary Objective:

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a hypnosis intervention in improving well-being at day 28 of an ICU stay.

Scale used for wellbeing:

* ESAS, total 90, each item on a 0-10 scale * EQ-5D-5L

Secondary Objectives:

1. To assess the impact of a hypnosis intervention to improve PICS at 3 months

* Anxiety and depression: PHQ-9 et GAD-7 * Post-traumatic stress disorder: PDI and IES-R scale * Quality of life: SF-12, EQ-5D-5L and WHODAS 2.0 * Patient impression of change: PGIC 2. To evaluate patient immediate wellbeing after the hypnosis intervention. • ESAS before after the session in patients who will get the session

• Immediate wellbeing following a hypnosis session [Time frame: Day 1 (Day of discharge from ICU), day 7, day 14]
• PDI - Peritraumatic distress inventory [Time frame: day 28 post ICU discharge]
• PHQ-9 - Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [Time frame: Day 28 post intensive care unit discharge and 3 months post intensive care]
• GAD-7 - Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [Time frame: at day 28 and 3 months post ICU discharge]
• IES-R (Impact of event Scale) [Time frame: 3 months post intensive care unit discharge. Higher score means more PTSD symptoms.]
• EQ-5D-5L (Quality of life) [Time frame: Day 28 post intensive care unit discharge and 3 months post intensive care unit discharge]
• PGIC - Patient Global Impression of Change [Time frame: Day 28 post intensive care unit discharge and 3 months post intensive care unit discharge]