Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in children after PICU discharge: exploring contributing factors and the need for targeted interventions

The rising number of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions has brought post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) into sharp focus as a pressing mental health concern among pediatric patients. This study aimed to explore the PTSD-related experiences of children following PICU hospitalization. This descriptive qualitative study investigated PTSD-related experiences in children aged 8–18 years discharged from PICUs in Chengdu, China. Using stratified purposive sampling, we conducted in-depth