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Evaluating psychological debriefing: are we measuring the right outcomes?
M P Deahl1, M Srinivasan, N Jones
1St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. mpdeahl@mds.qmw.ac.uk
Journal of Traumatic Stress
|September 6, 2001
Summary
Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) and psychological debriefing (PD) may still be effective. Recent trials show PD reduced alcohol misuse in soldiers, suggesting broader outcome measures are needed.
Area of Science:
- Psychotraumatology
- Military Mental Health
Background:
- Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) question the efficacy of critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) and psychological debriefing (PD) in preventing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Previous studies primarily focused on PTSD as the main outcome, often neglecting comorbid psychopathology and social dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the effectiveness of debriefing interventions by considering a wider range of psychological and social outcomes.
- To investigate the impact of PD on comorbid conditions and functional impairment following potentially traumatizing events.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving British soldiers returning from peacekeeping operations in Bosnia.
- Assessment of psychological outcomes, including PTSD, comorbid psychopathology, and behavioral/social dysfunction, with a specific focus on alcohol misuse.
Main Results:
- Psychological debriefing (PD) demonstrated a significant positive effect in reducing alcohol misuse within the study sample.
- The findings indicate that debriefing interventions may have benefits beyond PTSD prevention.
Conclusions:
- It is premature to conclude that debriefing interventions are ineffective.
- Future research should incorporate broader outcome measures, including behavioral and social functioning, to fully assess the impact of debriefing.