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A randomised controlled trial of group debriefing
Grant J Devilly1, Rachid Annab
1Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Vic. 3122, Australia. gdevilly@swin.edu.au
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|January 2, 2007
Summary
Group debriefing following exposure to a distressing video did not significantly reduce trauma symptoms or distress. Participants who received debriefing later wished they had more opportunity to discuss the event, suggesting potential cognitive dissonance.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Intervention Research
Background:
- Group debriefing is a common intervention following traumatic events.
- No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have previously evaluated group debriefing effectiveness.
- The efficacy of immediate post-event debriefing remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct the first RCT of group debriefing.
- To assess the impact of group debriefing on psychological distress and trauma symptoms.
- To explore participants' desire for further discussion after debriefing.
Main Methods:
- An analogue study with 64 student participants exposed to a stressful video.
- Random assignment to either a group debriefing condition or a control condition (tea and biscuits).
- One-month follow-up assessment of affective distress and trauma symptoms.
Main Results:
- The video was rated as distressing by participants.
- No significant differences were found between debriefed and non-debriefed groups on distress or trauma measures.
- Debriefed participants reported a greater desire to talk about the video post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- Immediate group debriefing may not effectively reduce psychological distress or trauma symptoms.
- Cognitive dissonance might explain the increased desire for discussion among debriefed individuals.
- Further research is needed to understand the optimal timing and format of psychological support after trauma exposure.
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