Future Directions for Psychology in Critical Care

Abstract

This chapter outlines the authors’ thoughts about the way critical care psychology will develop and increase its impact, for the benefit of patients, families, and staff, in the future. They review the current body of knowledge regarding the patient experience, psychological and cognitive risk factors, outcomes, and interventions in critical care and discuss how it can be strengthened and translated from testimony and theory into practice. The authors discuss the changes required in the philosophy and practice of medicine, as well as in societal trends. An international perspective is offered that briefly discusses differences between countries and how these practices might influence one another over time. The impact and unique challenges encountered during the recent COVID-19 pandemic are used to emphasize how an increased role for the critical care psychologist had already taken root more firmly in the United Kingdom than in many other countries.