NCJ Number
185662
Editor(s)
John M. Violanti Ph.D.,
Douglas Paton Ph.D.,
Christine Dunning Ph.D.
Date Published
2000
Length
239 pages
Annotation
Since the 1980's, posttraumatic stress intervention has focused primarily on "psychological debriefings" to help prevent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Abstract
While debriefing is important, mental health professionals are not certain about outcomes and there is agreement that debriefing may be somewhat hindered by its pathogenic nature rather than being a positive method for preventing PTSD. This book demonstrates the need for alternatives to the prevailing model of PTSD prevention. By concentrating on alternative ways of thinking about interaction between people and adversity, the adoption of a salutogenic paradigm for conceptualizing, researching, designing, and delivering effective trauma intervention is advocated. This paradigm offers opportunities for intervention to mitigate traumatic stress reactions, develop stress resilience, and establish necessary individual and organizational resources. In addition, the following topics are examined: integration of traumatic experiences, brief prevention programs after trauma, effects of traumatic disclosure on physical and mental health, values of writing and talking about upsetting events, hardiness as a resiliency factor, and work-related traumatic stress. The book is intended to be useful for disaster workers, emergency counselors, police counselors, mental health professionals, and any group or individual that works with people exposed to trauma. References, tables, and figures