ICU Psychosis causes intensive care patients to lose touch with reality because of their disorienting environment.

ICU Psychosis, often clinically referred to as ICU Delirium, affects up to 80% of patients on mechanical ventilators and roughly 50% of non-ventilated patients. This condition is characterized by a sudden onset of cognitive dysfunction, including hallucinations, extreme agitation, and paranoia. Research published in 'The Lancet' and studies by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center highlight that the lack of natural light and constant alarms disrupt the circadian rhythm. This disruption prevents the brain from entering deep REM sleep, which is essential for cognitive processing.The environment of an Intensive Care Unit is often a windowless room where the lights never turn off and machines beep at an average of 50 to 70 decibels. These sensory overloads, combined with metabolic imbalances and heavy sedation, create a 'perfect storm' for mental breakdown. A 2013 study found that patients who experienced delirium had significantly higher mortality rates and longer hospital stays. It also showed that many survivors suffer from long-term cognitive impairment similar to mild Alzheimer's disease.To combat this, the Society of Critical Care Medicine introduced the 'ABCDEF' bundle in the early 2010s. This protocol emphasizes early mobilization, family engagement, and the reduction of sedative medications. Modern hospital designs now prioritize large windows and 'healing gardens' to provide visual anchors to the outside world. By maintaining a normal sleep-wake cycle, medical teams can reduce the duration of delirium by several days and improve overall patient outcomes.