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Psychological debriefing for preventing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  1. Suzanna C Rose1,*,
  2. Jonathan Bisson2,
  3. Rachel Churchill3,
  4. Simon Wessely4

Editorial Group: Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group

Published Online: 21 JAN 2009

Assessed as up-to-date: 2 DEC 2001

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000560

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How to Cite

Rose SC, Bisson J, Churchill R, Wessely S. Psychological debriefing for preventing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2002, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD000560. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000560.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, UK., Berkshire Traumatic Stress Service, Reading, Berks, UK

  2. 2

    Cardiff University, Department of Psychological Medicine, Cardiff, UK

  3. 3

    University of Bristol, Academic Unit of Psychiatry, Community Based Medicine, Bristol, Avon, UK

  4. 4

    Guy's, King's & St Thomas School of Medicine & Institute of Psychiatry, Academic Dept of Psychological Medicine, London, UK

*Suzanna C Rose, Berkshire Traumatic Stress Service, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, UK., Erleigh Road Clinic, 25 Erleigh Road, Reading, Berks, RG1 5LR, UK. suzanna.rose@berkshire.nhs.uk.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: Edited (no change to conclusions)
  2. Published Online: 21 JAN 2009

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References

References to studies included in this review

  1. References to studies included in this review
  2. References to studies excluded from this review
  3. References to studies awaiting assessment
  4. References to ongoing studies
  5. Additional references
Bisson 1997 {published and unpublished data}
Bordow 1979 {published data only}
Bunn 1979 {published data only}
  • Bunn B, Clarke A. Crisis intervention: an experimental study of the effects of a brief period of counselling on the anxiety of relatives of seriously injuried or ill hospital patients. British Journal of Medical Psychology 1979;52(2):191-5.
Campfield 2001 {published data only}
  • Campfield KM, Hills AM. Effect of timing of critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) on post-traumatic symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress 2001;14(2):327-40.
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Conlon 1999 {published and unpublished data}
  • Conlon L, Fahy T, Conroy R. PTSD in ambulant RTA victims: prevalence, predictors and a randomised controlled trial of psychological debriefing in prophylaxis. Journal of Pschosomatic Research 1999;46(1):37-44.
Dolan {unpublished data only}
  • Dolan L, Bowyer D, Freeman C, Little K. Critical incident stress debriefing after trauma: is it effective?. Unpublished.
Hobbs 1996 {published and unpublished data}
Lavender 1998 {published data only}
Lee 1996 {published and unpublished data}
  • Lee C, Slade P, Lygo V. The influence of psychological debriefing on emotional adaptation in women following early miscarriage: a preliminary study. British Journal of Medical Psychology 1996;69(1):47-58.
Litz 2004 {unpublished data only}
  • Litz BT, Adler AB, Castro CA, Wright K, Thomas J, Suvak M, et al. A controlled trial of group debriefing. 20th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, November 14-18, New Orleans, LA. 2004.
Priest 2003 {published data only}
Rose 1999 {published data only}
Sijbrandij 2002 {unpublished data only}
  • Sijbrandij M, Olff M, Gersons B. Predicting PTSD anxiety and depression from symptoms of acute stress. 20th Annual Meeting, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, November 14 - November 18, New Orleans, LA. 2004.
  • Sijbrandij M, Olff M, Gersons B, Carlier I. A closer look at debriefing: Emotional ventilation vs. psychoeducation. 18th Annual Meeting, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, November 7 - 10, Baltimore, MD. 2002.
  • Sijbrandij ME, Olff M, Reitsma JB, Carlier IV, Gersons BP. Early intervention after psychological trauma: I. Emotional or educational debriefing, a randomized controlled trial. Submitted for publication.
Small 2000 {published data only}
  • Small R, Lumley J, Donohue L, Potter A, Walderstrom U. Midwife-led debriefing to reduce maternal depression following operative birth: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2000; Vol. 321, issue 7268:1043-7.
Stevens 1996 {published and unpublished data}
  • Hobbs G, Adshead G. Preventive psychological intervention for road crash victims. In: Mitchell M editor(s). The aftermath of road accidents: Psychological, social and legal perspectives. London: Routledge, 1997:159-71.

References to studies excluded from this review

  1. References to studies included in this review
  2. References to studies excluded from this review
  3. References to studies awaiting assessment
  4. References to ongoing studies
  5. Additional references
Amir 1998 {published data only}
  • Amir M, Weil G, Kapin Z, Tocker T, Witztum E. Debriefing with brief group psychotherapy in a homogenous group on non-injured victims of a terrorist attack: a prospectve study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 1998;98(3):237-42.
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Andre 1997 {published data only}
  • Andre C, Lelord F, Legeron P, Reignier A, Delattre A. Controlled study of outcome after 6 months to early intervention of bus driver victims of aggression [Etude controlee sur l'efficacite a 6 mois d'une prise en charge precoce de 132 conducteurs d'authobus victimes d'agression]. Encephale 1997;23(1):65-71.
Brom 1993 {published data only}
  • Brom D, Kleber R, Horman M. Victims of traffic accidents: incidence and prevention of post traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology 1993;49(2):131-40.
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  • Chemtob C, Tomas S, Law W, Cremniter D. Postdisaster Psychosocial Intervention: A Field Study of the Impact of Debriefing on Psychological Distress. American Journal of Psychiatry 1997;154(3):415-7.
Bryant 1998 {published data only}
  • Bryant R, Harvey A, Dang S, Sackville T, Basten C. Treatment of acute stress disorder: a comparison of cognitive behavior therapy and supportive counselling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1998;66(5):862-6.
  • Bryant R, Harvey A, Dang S, Sackville T. Assessing Acute Stress Disorder: Psychometric Properties of a Structured Clinical Interview. Psychological Assessment 1998;10(3):215-20.
Carlier {published data only}
  • Carlier I, Lamberts R, Van Uchelen A, Gersons B. Effectiveness of psychological debriefing: a controlled study of traumatised police officers. submitted.
Chemtob 1997 {published data only}

 

Deahl 1994 {published data only}
  • Deahl MP, Earnshaw NM, Jones N. Psychiatry and war. Learning lessons from the former Yugoslavia. British Journal of Psychiatry 1994;164:441-2.
  • Deahl MP, Gillham AB, Thomas J, Searle MM, Srinivasan M. Psychological sequelae following the Gulf War. Factors associated with subsequent morbidity and the effectiveness of psychological debriefing. British Journal of Psychiatry 1994;165:60-5.
Deahl 2000 {published data only}
  • Deahl M, Scrinivasan M, Jones N, Thomas J, Neblett C, Jolly A. Preventing psychological trauma in soldiers: The role of operational stress training and psychological debriefing. British Journal of Medical Psychology 2000;73(1):77-85.
Doctor 1994 {published data only}
  • Doctor R, Curtis D, Isaacs G. Psychiatric morbidity in policemen and the effect of brief psychotherapeutic intervention: A pilot study. Stress Medicine 1994;10(3):151-7.
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Foa 1995 {published data only}
  • Foa E, Ikeda D, Perry K. Evaluation of a brief cognitive-behavioral program for the prevention of chronic PTSD in recent assault victims. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology 1995;63(6):948-55.
Greenberg 1996 {published data only}
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Hytten 1989 {published data only}
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Kenardy 1996 {published data only}
  • Kenardy J, Webster R, Lewin T, Carr V, Hazell P, Carter G. Stress debriefing and patterns of recovery following a natural disaster. Journal of Traumatic Stress 1996;9(1):37-49.
    Direct Link:
Matthews 1998 {published data only}
  • Matthew, L. Effect of staff debriefing on posttraumatic stress symptoms after assaults by community housing residents. Psychiatric Services 1998;49(2):207-12.
McFarlane 1988 {published data only}
Polak 1975 {published data only}
Resnick 1999 {published data only}
  • Resnick H, Acierno R, Holmes M, Kilpatrick DG, & Jager N. Prevention of post-rape psychopathology: preliminary findings of a controlled acute rape treatment study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders 1999;13(4):359-70.
Richards 2001 {published data only}
  • Richards D. A field study of critical incident stress debriefing versus critical incident stress management. Journal of Mental Health 2001;10(3):351-62.
Robinson 1993 {published data only}
  • Robinson R, Mitchell J. Evaluation of psychological debriefings. Journal of Traumatic Stress 1993;6(3):367-82.
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Saari 1996 {published data only}
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Tadmor 1987 {published data only}
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Viney 1985 {published data only}
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References to studies awaiting assessment

  1. References to studies included in this review
  2. References to studies excluded from this review
  3. References to studies awaiting assessment
  4. References to ongoing studies
  5. Additional references
Frommberger 2002 {unpublished data only}
  • Frommberger U, Nyberg E, Angenendt J, Stieglitz R, Nowotny-behrens U, & Berger M. Manualized early cognitive-behavioral intervention program in accident victims. A prospective study. XII World Congress of Psychiatry. Aug 24-9, 2002, Yokohama, Japan. Abstract S-17-4. 2002.
Gamble 2005 {published data only}
  • Gamble J, Creedy D, Moyle W, Webster J, McAllister M, Dickson P. Effectiveness of a Counseling Intervention after a Traumatic Childbirth: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Birth 2005;32:11-19.
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Macnab 2003 {published data only}
  • Macnab A, Sun C, Lowe J. RCT of three levels of critical incident stress intervention. Prehospital Disaster Medicine 2003;18(4):365-69.
Marchand 2004 {published data only}
  • Marchand A, Quay S, St-Hilaire MH, Boyer R, Martin A, & Iucci S. A randomized controlled trial of CISD for convenience store employees. 20th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. November 14-18, New Orleans, LA . 2004..

References to ongoing studies

  1. References to studies included in this review
  2. References to studies excluded from this review
  3. References to studies awaiting assessment
  4. References to ongoing studies
  5. Additional references
Alexander 2002 {unpublished data only}
  • Alexander D. Prevention of adverse reactions to trauma: clinical and psychosocial evaluation from early brief psychological intervention. National Research Register 2002.
Stallard 2003 {unpublished data only}
  • Stallard P. A randomised controlled trial to determine whether mental health problems and significant psychological distress in children involved in everyday road traffic accidents can be prevented. National Research Register 2003.

Additional references

  1. References to studies included in this review
  2. References to studies excluded from this review
  3. References to studies awaiting assessment
  4. References to ongoing studies
  5. Additional references
Andrews 2000
Armstrong 1991
  • Armstrong K, O'Callahan W, Marmar C. Debriefing Red Cross disaster personnel: The Multiple Stressor Debriefing Model. Journal of Traumatic Stress 1991;4(4):581-93.
    Direct Link:
Bisson
  • Bisson J, Shepherd J, Joy D, Probert R. Randomised controlled trial of a brief psychological intervention to prevent post traumatic stress disorder. submitted.
Bisson 1994
Brandon 1996
  • Brandon S. Psychological debriefing. British Journal of Psychiatry 1996;168:878.
Brewin 1999
  • Brewin C, Andrews B, Rose S, Kirk M. Acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder in victms of violent crime. American Journal of Psychiatry 1999;156(3):360-6.
Brewin 2003
  • Brewin. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder - Malady or Myth?. USA: Yale University Press, 2003.
Bryant 1998a
  • Bryant R, Harvey A, Dang S, Sackville T, Basten C. Treatment of acute stress disorder: a comparison of cognitive behavior therapy and supportive counselling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1998;66(5):862-6.
Bryant 1998b
  • Bryant R, Harvey A, Dang S, Sackville T. Assessing acute stress disorder: psychometric properties of a structured clinical interview. Psychological Assessment 1998;10(3):215-20.
Callahan 1996
  • Callahan J. Negative effects of a school suicide postvention program- a case example. Journal of Crisis Intervention & Suicide 1996;17(3):108-15.
Deahl
  • Deahl M, Scrinivasan M, Jones N, Thomas J, Neblett C, Jolly A. Preventing psychological trauma in soldiers: the role of operational stress training and psychological debriefing. Unpublished.
Dyregov 1989
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Foa 1995a
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Freeman in press
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Friedman 1989
Gold 1986
Horowitz 1979
Janoff-Bulman 1992
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Kenardy 1996a
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Kessler 1995
Litz 2002
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Mayou 1993
McFarlane 1987
Mitchell 1983
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Mitchell 1997
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Raphael 1996
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Robinson 1995
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Shalev 1994
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