Consensus on diagnosing iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome in adult ICU patients

International Delphi Consensus on the Universal Definition and Diagnosis of Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome in Adult ICU Patients

Observational ELIAS Emergency University Hospital · NCT07316894

This project will see if international ICU, anesthesiology, and psychiatry experts can agree on a standard definition and diagnostic criteria for iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome in critically ill adults using anonymous questionnaires.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment120 (estimated)
SexAll
SponsorELIAS Emergency University Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Bucharest)
Trial IDNCT07316894 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

An international Delphi consensus process will ask experienced intensivists, anesthesiologists, and psychiatrists to complete anonymized rounds of a questionnaire using a 7-point Likert scale to build agreement on diagnostic criteria for iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) in adult critically ill patients. Participants must have at least five years of relevant clinical experience, training, or research in intensive care medicine, anesthesiology, or psychiatry. The process is observational and iterative, with responses aggregated and circulated between rounds to refine and converge opinions. The aim is to produce a clear, expert-agreed definition and diagnostic approach to guide clinicians and future research.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: This activity does not enroll patients; it seeks clinicians in intensive care, anesthesiology, or psychiatry with at least five years of experience or equivalent training or research to participate in the consensus questionnaire.

Not a fit: Because it is an expert consensus process rather than a treatment trial, individual patients do not receive direct interventions or immediate clinical benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to clearer diagnosis, faster recognition, and more consistent treatment of iatrogenic withdrawal in critically ill adults.

How similar studies have performed: Delphi consensus methods have been successfully used to create diagnostic criteria in other critical care areas, though formal consensus specifically for adult IWS has been limited until now.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* At least 5 years of experience or training or research in the field of Intensive Care Medicine, Anesthesiology or Psychiatry

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not a specialist in the fields of Intensive Care Medicine, Anesthesiology or Psychiatry

Where this trial is running

Bucharest

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Iatrogenic Withdrawal SyndromeiatrogenicwithdrawalsyndromeICUdelphiconsensus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.