Frequently Asked Questions
Do you use psychological debriefing for people who have just been traumatized? Can debriefing prevent PTSD?
For those who aren’t familiar with psychological debriefing, it refers to an intervention usually administered days after a trauma, often within two weeks. It is usually offered in a group format through larger organizations, but it may be given individually. The most well known form of debriefing is Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, which is part of larger system called Critical Incident Stress Management.
The stated purpose of debriefing is to help alleviate trauma survivors’ immediate distress and to prevent the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although this is a nice idea, there’s no evidence psychological debriefing does anything to make people feel better or to decrease the likelihood someone will develop PTSD. In fact, there is some evidence debriefing may even make people feel worse than if they had not received any treatment at all.
For these reasons, I recommend people who have recently experienced a trauma or who know someone who has, to worry less about whatever symptoms they’re experiencing and to spend more time reaching out to friends and loved ones and trying to still do the things in life that are important to them.
The good news is that most people are able to process trauma over time. Only 10-20% of people develop PTSD after being traumatized. There are a number of factors that put some people at greater risk for PTSD (e.g., prior traumas), but nothing definitive.
Perhaps the most vital thing is that people try to remain connected to important people and activities in their lives. When we are in great pain, there can be a tendency to want to withdraw and avoid. Some of this is healthy and natural, but too much avoidance over time can lead to problems in the long run.
Supportive treatment immediately after trauma may be useful in helping people adjust but some people are numbed by the experience and may want some time to reflect. If things continue to get worse months down the road, it may be worth calling in a trauma specialist.
