Exposure to memories and exploring meaning of traumatic events is an effective component of trauma treatments. So that must mean that making these efforts with people immediately after they experience a traumatic event will prevent them from developing PTSD, right? Unfortunately, this is does not seem to be helpful.
Research has found that Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and similar immediate debriefing techniques are typically not effective for preventing PTSD. This approach even led to worse outcomes in a few studies. CISD is still practiced, despite this risk.
So why wouldn’t this work? Researchers believe that CISD and similar approaches force individuals to contact trauma memories too early following a traumatic event. This timing may increase attentional focus on the event and may therefore more deeply solidify negative content in memory.
CISD also attempts to train individuals to openly speak about the event and their emotions. But this is not how many people naturally cope with stressful experiences. Many people cope very effectively in their own way or ways we do not completely understand. Some experts believe that promoting a uniform way of coping or pressing people to share experiences might interfere with naturally effective ways of coping that help many individuals recover adaptively after traumatic events.
There are effective alternatives, however. Research has found benefit for using Psychological First Aid (PFA) immediately following traumatic events and mass disasters. PFA focuses on connecting individuals with basic needs (e.g., medical care, food) and social support resources (e.g., community groups, religious communities).
PFA also provides some psychoeducation about PTSD responses that could occur later. It offers therapy resources in the event those responses do occur. Offering these resources also appears to provide social support in itself. The Red Cross and SAHMSA both offer PFA trainings!
Evidence shows that Critical Incident Stress Debriefing is not helpful and may backfire. But Psychological First Aid can help! Those working in individual settings, for schools or agencies, or in first response have an effective tool following traumatic events.
