Episodes of (Dis)Connected Consciousness in ICU Survivors

Recruiting

• Conditions: ICU; Critical Illness; Consciousness; Near Death Experience

• Registration Number: NCT07048951
• Lead Sponsor: University of Liege

Brief Summary

This single-center observational study aims to describe the incidence of episodes of connected consciousness and disconnected consciousness (including near-death experience (NDE) and out-of-body experiences) in patients who survived a prolonged stay of at least 7 days in the intensive care unit (ICU) and who had at least one episode of pharmacological or non-pharmacological coma. The investigators are also investigating the risk factors related to these episodes of consciousness. A follow-up at six months aims to explore the long-term psychological implications of these episodes.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Study Start: 2025-04-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-04-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-06-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-06-24
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-03
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-03
• Primary Completion: 2027-01
• Study Completion: 2027-04-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• Adult patients who survived a ≥7 days stay in the intensive care unit
• Experienced a pharmacological or non-pharmacological episode of loss of consciousness
• French speaking

Exclusion Criteria

• Refusal
• Chronic disorder of consciousness
• Confusion or delirium
• Deafness
• Blindness
• Aphasia

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Detection of potential episodes of disconnected consciousness	Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after)	Near-death experience (using the Near-Death Experience Content scale, min-max: 0-80, with ≥27/80 indicating the presence of a NDE); dream
Detection of potential episodes of connected consciousness	Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after)	Explicit recall of environmental/external stimuli in the ICU

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Risk factors	Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after)	(Neuro)physiological marker
Psychological vulnerability during the stay at the ICU	Within the week following discharge from the ICU (max 7 days after)	Using the Threat Perception Measure, a scale that contains 7 items related to feelings and anxieties perceived by the patient, each scored from 1 to 4, ranging from 1 "Not at all", 2 "A little", 3 "Moderately", and 4 "Extremely", as well as a "don 't remember" category. Min-max: 7-28, with higher scores indicating a higher level of perceived threat
Psychological impact of the stay at the ICU	At a 6 month follow-up after discharge from the ICU	Any patient who stayed at least 7 days at the ICU is invited to a 6 month follow-up during which they will be presented Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, min-max: 0-42, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome, i.e., more severe symptoms of anxiety or depression), to assess anxiety and depression as well as the Post-Traumatic Stress Assessment Questionnaire (IES-R, min-max: 0-88, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome, i.e., more severe post-traumatic stress symptoms).; The investigators will be asking two additional questions to investigate a possible impact on the patient's beliefs.; * Question 1: "Since your stay in intensive care, have your beliefs/opinions changed regarding death?".; * Question 2: "Has your stay in intensive care modified your fear of health care institutions?

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

CHU of Liège; 🇧🇪 Liège, Belgium