Year: 2025 | Month: May | Volume: 15 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 159-187
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250522
Understanding Post-Sepsis Psychiatric Disorder: A Conceptual Approach Based on the Current Research Literature
Nishant Kumar Sahu
Department of Psychiatry, Shri Balaji Institute of Medical Science, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
ABSTRACT
Sepsis is a serious worldwide health concern, and more survivors are experiencing "post-sepsis syndrome" following their hospitalization. A common consequence that raises long-term mortality is post-sepsis psychiatric disorders, which include delirium, sadness, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Clinicians, however, frequently fail to recognize the mental damage linked to sepsis. Neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter dysfunction, host cell death, poor neuroplasticity, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, and hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are all part of the complicated pathophysiology of post-sepsis psychiatric disease. Although screening scales are frequently employed, no universal diagnostic standards exist for this condition. This condition may be prevented with targeted therapy for modifiable risk factors. Comprehensive nursing care and other non-pharmacological methods may offer a viable treatment option for Psychiatric disorders post-sepsis, while specific medicines are still in short supply.
Key words: Post-sepsis, Pathophysiology, Neuroinflammation, Blood-brain barrier, Host cell death, Prevention, Treatment