Early Intervention

Early interventions need to focus on safety, reducing initial distress, gathering information, and offering practical assistance. This section includes information and recommendations for short term and intermediate treatment of trauma survivors to help with prevention of psychological distress.

Essential Information and Guidelines

• Early Intervention for Trauma: Current Status and Future Directions
  Reviews the core issues in early intervention that need to be addressed in resolving the debate over Psychological Debriefing.
• Recommendations for Acute Stress Management and Prevention of PTSD
  This PTSD 101 online course provides an overview of the Clinical Practice Guideline for acute stress management and prevention of PTSD.
• Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide
  The Psychological First Aid Guide was developed by the National Center for PTSD and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. It has essential information for dealing with people in the immediate aftermath of disasters.
• Overview of the VA/DoD 2010 Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD
  This PTSD 101 online course provides an overview of the Clinical Practice Guideline for acute stress management and prevention of PTSD.

Overview of Acute Stress

• Acute Stress Disorder
  Describes acute stress disorder (ASD), including: who is at risk, how is it treated, and how is it related to PTSD.
• Treating Survivors in the Acute Aftermath of Traumatic Events
  Describes the complexity of therapy decisions in the aftermath of traumatic events, such as: the nature of events, phases of coping, assessment and evaluation, and more. Includes general intervention information as well as specific techniques for acute stress.

Interventions

• Early Mental Health Intervention for Disasters
  Discusses factors that influence prevention of problems following disasters, obstacles to help-seeking, early intervention, and basic principles of emergency care, including Psychological First Aid.
• Secondary Mental-Health Treatment Following Disasters
  Discusses follow-up mental health care after disasters, including identifying those at-risk, timing and content of services, and ways to maximize care.
• Guidelines for Mental Health Providers' Response to the Events of 9/11/2001
  Includes a brief list of recommendations for mental health professionals who work with people seeking treatment immediately after trauma. Guidelines are based on 9/11 events.
• Cautions Regarding Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions Provided Within a Month of Trauma
  Describes when and when not to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an early intervention for acute stress.

Interventions

• Helping Survivors in the Wake of Disaster
  Concise information for volunteers, mental health clinicians, chaplains, and medical personnel on the effects of traumatic stress and recommendations for helping survivors of disasters.
• Disaster Rescue and Response Workers
  Provides information specific to response and recovery workers on stress reactions. Includes tips on managing stress during and following the disaster, as well as after they return home.