Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-5r2nc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-11T13:12:46.537Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Effectiveness of Psychological First Aid as a Disaster Intervention Tool: Research Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Literature From 1990-2010

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Jeffrey H. Fox ,
Frederick M. Burkle Jr ,
Judith Bass ,
Francesco A. Pia ,
Jonathan L. Epstein  and
David Markenson
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective: The Advisory Council of the American Red Cross Disaster Services requested that an independent study determine whether first-aid providers without professional mental health training, when confronted with people who have experienced a traumatic event, offer a “safe, effective and feasible intervention.”

Methods: Standard databases were searched by an expert panel from 1990 to September 2010 using the keyword phrase “psychological first aid.” Documents were included if the process was referred to as care provided to victims, first responders, or volunteers and excluded if it was not associated with a disaster or mass casualty event, or was used after individual nondisaster traumas such as rape and murder. This search yielded 58 citations.

Results: It was determined that adequate scientific evidence for psychological first aid is lacking but widely supported by expert opinion and rational conjecture. No controlled studies were found. There is insufficient evidence supporting a treatment standard or a treatment guideline.

Conclusion: Sufficient evidence for psychological first aid is widely supported by available objective observations and expert opinion and best fits the category of “evidence informed” but without proof of effectiveness. An intervention provided by volunteers without professional mental health training for people who have experienced a traumatic event offers an acceptable option. Further outcome research is recommended.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:247–252)

Keywords

psychological first aiddisaster mental healthacute stress disorderposttraumatic stress disorder
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , October 2012 , pp. 247 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.American Psychiatric Association Committee on Civil Defense. Psychological first aid in community disasters. JAMA. 1954;156 (1):36–41.Google Scholar
2.Everly, GS JrFlynn, BW.Principles and practical procedures for acute psychological first aid training for personnel without mental health experience. Int J Emerg Ment Health. 2006;8 (2):93–100.Google ScholarPubMed
3.Parker, CLEverly, GS JrBarnett, DJLinks, JM.Establishing evidence-informed core intervention competencies in psychological first aid for public health personnel. Int J Emerg Ment Health. 2006;8 (2):83–92.Google Scholar
4.American Red Cross of the National Capitol Region. Psychological First Aid: Helping People in Times of Stress.Fairfax, VA: American National Red Cross; 2006:37.Google Scholar
5. McNally, RBryant, REhlers, A.Does early psychological intervention promote recovery from posttraumatic stress? Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2003;4:45–79.Google Scholar
6.Bisson, JI.Single-session early psychological interventions following traumatic events. Clin Psychol Rev. 2003;23 (3):481–499.Google Scholar
7.Bisson, JIShepherd, JPJoy, D, et alEarly cognitive-behavioural therapy for post-traumatic stress symptoms after physical injury. Br J Psychiatry. 2004;184:63–69.Google Scholar
8.Litz, BTGray, MJBryant, RAAdler, AB.Early intervention for trauma: current status and future directions. Clin Psychol Sci Pract. 2002;9:112–134.Google Scholar
9.Cannon, WB.Stresses and strains of hemostasis. Am J Med Sci. 1935;189:1–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Selye, H.Stress Without Distress.Philadelphia, PA: JB Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; June 1974.Google Scholar
11.Easterbrook, JA.The effect of emotion on cue utilization and the organization of behavior. Psychol Rev. 1959;66 (3):183–201.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Clark, DM.A cognitive model of panic attacks.In: Rachman S, Maser JD, eds. Panic: Psychological Perspectives. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1988:71-89.Google Scholar
13.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Rev 4th ed.Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.Google Scholar
14.Kessler, RCSonnega, ABromet, EHughes, MNelson, CB.Posttraumatic stress disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1995;52 (12):1048–1060.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Solomon, Z.Twenty years after the Yom Kippur War: the belated recognition of war-induced psychic trauma. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 1993;30 (3):128–129.Google ScholarPubMed
16.Shalev, AYSahar, TFreedman, SA, et alA prospective study of heart rate response following trauma and the subsequent development of posttraumatic stress disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998;55 (6):553–559.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Ehlers, AClark, DMHackmann, A, et alA randomized controlled trial of cognitive therapy, a self-help booklet, and repeated assessments as early interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003;60 (10):1024–1032.Google Scholar
18.Litz, BT.Early intervention for trauma: where are we and where do we need to go? a commentary. J Trauma Stress. 2008;21 (6):503–506.Google Scholar
19.La Greca, AMSilverman, WK.Treatment and prevention of posttraumatic stress reactions in children and adolescents exposed to disasters and terrorism: what is the evidence? Child Dev Perspect. 2009;3 (1):4–10.Google Scholar
20.Everly, GS JrPhillips, SKane, DFeldman, D.Introduction to and overview of group psychological first aid. Brief Treat Crisis Interv. 2006;6:130–136.Google Scholar
21.Jacobs, GAMeyer, D.Psychological first aid: clarifying the concept.In: Barbanel L, Sternberg RJ, eds. Psychological Intervention in Times of Crisis. New York, NY: Springer Publishing; 2005:57-71.Google Scholar
22.Academic Programs. Disaster Mental Health Institute.University of South Dakota. https://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology/disaster-mental-health-institute/academic-programs.cfm. Accessed November 3, 2010.Google Scholar
23.International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.Reference Center for Psychological Support. Policies adopted by the 7th Session of the Governing Board of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, May 2003, Geneva. http://psp.drk.dk/sw38280.asp. Accessed November 4, 2010.Google Scholar
24.Burkle, FM JrChatterjee, PBass, JBolton, P.Guidelines for the psycho-social and mental health assessment and management of displaced populations in humanitarian crises.In: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Johns Hopkins University Text on Humanitarian Emergencies. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2008.Google Scholar
25.National Institute of Mental Health. Mental Health and Mass Violence: Evidence-Based Early Psychological Intervention for Victims/Survivors of Mass Violence.A Workshop to Reach Consensus on Best Practices. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 2002. NIH publication. No. 02-5138.Google Scholar
26.Department of Defense, Veterans Health Administration. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Post-traumatic Stress.Version 1.0. Washington, DC: Veterans Health Administration, Dept of Defense; January 2004.Google Scholar
27.National Child Traumatic Stress Network and National Center for PTSD. Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide,2nd ed. Los Angeles, CA: National Child Traumatic Stress Network; 2006.Google Scholar
28.Interagency Standing Committee Reference Group Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. 2010. http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/pageloader.aspx?page=content-subsidi-common-default&sb=72. Accessed November 4, 2010.Google Scholar
29.Bisson, JIBrayne, MOchberg, FMEverly, GS JrEarly psychosocial intervention following traumatic events. Am J Psychiatry. 2007;164 (7):1016–1019.Google Scholar