Psychiatrist explains how prolonged hospitalizations can impact mental health

MARIA: ALL RIGHT, JESSICA. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. AS WE’VE BEEN REPORTING, BUFFALO BILLS SAFETY DAMAR HAMLIN IS NOW HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER GOING INTO CARDIAC ARREST DURING A FOOTBALL GAME IN CINCINNATI. ON TELEVISION. HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IS DR. MANUEL PACHECO, A PSYCHIATRIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. IT’S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. BEN: — ED: GREAT TO SEE YOU. PEOPLE SAYING WOW, YEAH, HE’S HOME TONIGHT. HAMLIN’S DOCTORS SAY HE’S MADE A REMARKABLE RECOVERY. IT WAS ONLY LAST MONDAY THAT HE COLLAPSED ON THE FIELD, NO PULSE, NEEDED RESUSCITATION, PUT ON A VENTILATOR. RESUSCITATED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. I’M GOING TO TELL EVERYONE THE OBVIOUS, BUT I KNOW YOU ARE NOT COUNSELING HIM, BUT IN GENERAL, ONCE PEOPLE REALIZE HOW CLOSE TO DEATH THEY WERE, CAN IT AFFECT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH? DR. PACHECO: OVER THE YEARS I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE ADMITTED URGENTLY TO THE HOSPITAL. A PROLONGED MEDICAL ADMISSION, AS WELL AS LIKE IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO ICU, IT CAN AFFECT YOU IN TERMS OF YOUR ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE AND YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. ABOUT HALF THE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE, ESPECIALLY ICU WITH A LIFE-THREATENING DIAGNOSIS, CAN GET SOME FORM OF PTSD FROM THAT. MARIA: FOR SURE. A LOT OF NOT ONLY JUST FOR THE PATIENT, BUT A LOT OF US KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR DAYS, WEEKS, EVEN MONTHS. FOR SOME IT CAN BE EMOTIONAL, EVEN TRAUMATIZING. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR THE PEOPLE GIVING CARE WHEN THOSE PEOPLE COME HOME. DR. PACHECO: WE’VE ALL HAD THAT IN OUR FAMILY. MYSELF, I HAD TO BE A CAREGIVER FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR LOVED ONE OR THE PERSON THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF, WHAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT, WORRYING ABOUT. THE ASSURED THAT YOU ARE IN CONTACT WITH THEIR DOCTORS ABOUT WARNING SIGNS. A LOT OF PEOPLE OFTEN WORRY WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY HAVE TO GO BACK IN OR IF THEY ARE GOING TO DIE IF THEY GO BACK HOME. THE LAST IMPORTANT THING IS, YOU MENTIONED DAMAR HAMLIN COMING HOME LIKE A WEEK LATER. SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN PLACE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ON WHEN THEY CAN GO BACK TO NORMAL. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT NORMAL IS GOING TO BE IN THE CASE OF EVERY PERSON. ED: THAT’S A GREAT POINT, A GREAT POINT. DR. CAN BE HARD TO TELL THE , DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PHYSICAL SYMPTOM AND A MENTAL SYMPTOM? IS IT HARD TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE? IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT SOMETHING, YOUR STOMACH CAN BOTHER YOU, YOU CAN BECOME SHORT OF BREATH. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHEN YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION AND WORRY ABOUT IT — ED: THE WARNING SIGNS, RIGHT. DR. PACHECO: SOMEONE NOT SLEEPING AT ALL. NOT EATING. NOT ABLE TO STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. IT’S IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THINGS THAT REALLY DERAIL SOMEONE FROM IMPROVING AND FROM JUST MAKING — TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN RECOVERY. MOST OF THE TIME YOU WILL KNOW THE PERSON YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF AND THOSE ARE BIG WARNING SIGNS, IF THEY FEEL WORTHLESS OR HELPLESS. AS USUAL, TALK TO THE DOCTORS THAT TOOK CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONE.

Psychiatrist explains how prolonged hospitalizations can impact mental health

Updated: 5:02 PM EST Jan 11, 2023

Dr. Manuel Pacheco, a psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center, explains how extreme medical events that lead to prolonged hospitalization can cause some form of PTSD.

BOSTON —

Dr. Manuel Pacheco, a psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center, explains how extreme medical events that lead to prolonged hospitalization can cause some form of PTSD.