Debriefing After Trauma: The Final Word?

In at least five studies, psychological debriefing immediately after traumatic exposure did not prevent post-traumatic stress disorder, and one study suggested that debriefing might even have harmful effects (see Journal Watch Psychiatry Oct 3 2001). In the current study, researchers in the Netherlands sought to determine whether the emotional stimulation or psychoeducation of debriefing produces adverse effects, and whether certain individuals would be more vulnerable to these effects. Two weeks after experiencing an assault or accident, 236 adults were randomized to emotional debriefing (limited to reconstruction of the trauma and accompanying emotions), psychoeducational debriefing (limited to information about PTSD symptoms) or no debri…