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Incorporating Psychological Debriefing Techniques within a Brief Group Psychotherapy Programme for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Walter Busuttil ,
Gordon J. Turnbull ,
Leigh A. Neal ,
John Rollins ,
Adrian G. West ,
Nick Blanch  and
Ronald Herepath
Walter Busuttil*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Gordon J. Turnbull
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Leigh A. Neal
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
John Rollins
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Adrian G. West
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Nick Blanch
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Ronald Herepath
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
*
W. Busuttil, Psychiatric Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Royal Air Force Wroughton, Wiltshire SN4 0QJ
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Abstract

Background

The Royal Air Force Wroughton Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Rehabilitation Programme is described. It comprised a 12-day structured in-patient ‘course’ of group psychotherapy and day-case group follow-up sessions over a one-year period. Psychological debriefing was the main therapeutic technique employed.

Method

This is a ‘before and after’ open outcome study. A comprehensive assessment protocol confirmed the presence and severity of PTSD and measured co-morbid psychopathological status, occupational and social function longitudinally.

Results

A highly significant global response to treatment is demonstrated in the 34 subjects included in the study, with 85.3% not fulfilling the DSM–III–R criteria for PTSD at one year after treatment.

Conclusions

Further controlled studies assessing the value of psychological debriefing techniques in the treatment of established PTSD are required.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 4 , October 1995 , pp. 495 - 502
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors alone and should not be taken to reflect those of Her Majesty's Government, the Ministry of Defence or the Royal Air Force.

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