Authors

  1. Spilman, Sarah K. MA
  2. Smith, Hayden L. PhD
  3. Schirmer, Lori L. PharmD
  4. Tonui, Peter M. MD

Abstract

A retrospective study examined in-hospital antidepressant medication (ADM) use in adult trauma patients with an intensive care unit stay of 5 or more days. One fourth of patients received an ADM, with only 33% of those patients having a documented history of depression. Of patients who received their first ADM from a trauma or critical care physician, only 5% were discharged with a documented plan for psychiatric follow-up. The study identified a need for standardized identification and management of depressive symptoms among trauma patients in the inpatient setting.