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Effect of timing of critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) on posttraumatic symptoms
Author(s) -
Campfield Kerrianne M.,
Hills Adelma M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1011117018705
Subject(s) - posttraumatic stress , debriefing , psychology , clinical psychology , emotional trauma , anxiety disorder , psychotherapist , psychiatry , anxiety , social psychology
Seventy‐seven civilian employees who were victims of robbery were randomly assigned to either an immediate (< 10 hr) or delayed (> 48 hr) debriefing group, using the J. Mitchell (1983) CISD protocol. Scores on the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale were obtained at 4 time intervals: debrief, 2 and 4 days post‐debrief, and 2 weeks postrobbery. The number and severity of symptoms did not differ at debrief, but were lower for the immediate than for the delayed group at each subsequent time interval. The number and severity of symptoms declined across time intervals; however, although this reduction was pronounced for the immediate group it was minimal for the delayed group. The results supported use of immediate debriefing with this type of incident and victim.