To explore differences in psychological distress score across time, patients score at baseline and 12 months were used to categorize the patients as recovering (decreasing score; IES-score �� 20 at 4 to 6 weeks and <20 at 12 months), resilience (stable low score, <20, at both time points), persistent symptoms (stable high score, Imatinib Mesylate purchase �� 20, at both time points) or delayed symptoms (increasing score; <20 at 4 to 6 weeks and �� 20 at 12 months). One hundred and seventy patients had an IES-total score at both baseline and 12 months. The score at three months is used to indicate the course of symptoms.At the first assessment, four to six weeks after ICU discharge, further referred to as baseline, questionnaires about ICU memories, LOT, HADS and IES were included.

During follow-up, LOT, HADS and IES were assessed at both 3 and 12 months. One missing item was accepted in each subscale of IES and HADS, and on the LOT score. The missing item was replaced with the mean of the other items for that patient. Although one missing item was accepted some patients did not get a sum score on these scales resulting in 180 patients with an IES-total score at 12 months and 192 patients with HADS score. In this paper we refer to the highest cut-off score (IES �� 35, HADS �� 11) concerning symptom levels that probably needs treatment (case level).Statistical methodsStatistical analyses were performed with the SPSS for Windows Version 15.0, Illinois, Chicago, USA. Continuous variables are presented as mean scores with 95% confidence interval (CI). The significance level was set at P < 0.05.

Independent sample t-tests were used when comparing two groups on normally distributed variables. For categorical variables, Pearson’s Chi-squared test was used. The Friedman Test was used for repeated measures analyses of variance. Correlations between pairs of continuous variables were calculated using Spearman’s correlation coefficients. When the aim was to identify variables independently and significantly associated with IES (case level �� 35), HADS-Anxiety or HADS-Depression (both case level �� 11), logistic regression analysis was used. In these analyses we adjusted for age and gender. Variables that were significantly associated with the dependent variable in the univariate analyses (P < 0.2) were included in a multivariable logistic regression model, using forward Wald variable selection.

All independent variables included correlated Cilengitide below 0.7.ResultsA total of 255 (61.7%) patients completed the first questionnaire and 194 of these completed the study at 12 months (Figure (Figure11 and Table Table1).1). Although 27 of the 194 patients did not respond to the three-month questionnaire, we have chosen to include these 27 patients in order not to lose information. We therefore used the 194 patients in the further analyses.