Psychological first aid

Patricia J. Watson

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511585975.005

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3 - Psychological first aid

Patricia J. Watson

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Michael Blumenfield and

Robert J. Ursano

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Michael Blumenfield: Affiliation:
New York Medical College
Robert J. Ursano: Affiliation:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Maryland

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Summary

Introduction

The management of acute stress reactions following disasters and mass violence generally aims to foster resiliency, prevent chronic emotional problems, and minimize long-term deterioration in quality of life following the trauma exposure. Although it is widely believed by traumatic stress specialists that early intervention can help prevent longer-term problems, evidence addressing this belief is limited at present.

This chapter will review the current empirical literature on early interventions following mass violence, and describe the principles of a consensus-recommended intervention called “psychological first aid.”

Background research: effects of disasters

Researchers wishing to conduct studies on acute interventions following disaster face many methodological challenges. Early interventions typically take place in chaotic and uncontrolled settings, with little pre-planning, funding or co-ordination between researchers and interventionists, a focus on action and assistance rather than research, and cross-community barriers between local responders and external researchers. Therefore, in the absence of well-controlled intervention studies, an initial examination of the effects of disasters, as well as risk and protective factors, has often been the basis for developing interventions that foster identified protective factors and ameliorate vulnerability factors.

Rates of traumatic stress disorders and functional impairment in the general population following disaster or mass violence may be somewhat low over time, as evidenced by recent epidemiological studies following the September 11 terrorism attack in New York (Galea et al., 2002). Galea found a sharp decline in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in New York over the course of 6 months, from 7.5% to 0.6%.

Type: Chapter
Information: Intervention and Resilience after Mass Trauma , pp. 69 - 84

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511585975.005 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2000

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