Slowing down fast thinking to enhance understanding

Stress can make the comprehension of complex information more difficult, yet patients and their family members often must receive, process, and make decisions based on new, complex information presented in unfamiliar and stressful clinical environments such as the intensive care unit. Families may be asked to make decisions regarding the donation of organs and genetic tissue scon after the death of a loved one, based on new, complex information, under tight time limits.