Depression in a pediatric intensive care unit nursing staff

This study compared the depressive symptoms of 36 ICU nurses to 23 non-ICU nurses. The study was conducted in a pediatric setting where critically ill children may present unique demands. The ICU nursing staff had a significantly higher frequency (28%) of symptoms consistent with a depressive disorder than either the age group norm (12%) or the non-ICU nurses (13%). This finding suggests a continued need for investigation into the stresses associated with the delivery of critical care.