Abstract

Background Psychological debriefing (PD) is widely used following major traumatic events in an attempt to reduce psychological sequelae. Method One hundred and thirty-three adult burn trauma victims entered the study. After initial questionnaire completion, participants were randomly allocated to an individual/couple PD group or a control group who received no intervention; 110 (83%) were interviewed by an assessor blind to PD status three and 13 months later. Results Sixteen (26%) of the PD group had PTSD at 13-month follow-up, compared with four (9%) of the control group. The PD group had higher initial questionnaire scores and more severe dimensions of burn trauma than the control group, both of which were associated with a poorer outcome. Conclusions This study seriously questions the wisdom of advocating one-off interventions post-trauma, and should stimulate research into more effective initiatives.

Keywords

DebriefingPsychologyMedicinePsychological traumaClinical psychologyMedical emergencyEmergency medicinePsychiatrySocial psychology

MeSH Terms

AdolescentAdultAgedAnxietyBurnsCrisis InterventionDepressionFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedStress DisordersPost-TraumaticTreatment Outcome

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Publication Info

Year
1997
Type
article
Volume
171
Issue
1
Pages
78-81
Citations
448
Access
Closed

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Cite This

Jonathan I. Bisson, Peter Jenkins, Julie Alexander et al. (1997). Randomised controlled trial of psychological debriefing for victims of acute burn trauma. The British Journal of Psychiatry , 171 (1) , 78-81. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.171.1.78

Identifiers

DOI
10.1192/bjp.171.1.78
PMID
9328501

Data Quality

Data completeness: 81%