Abstract

SANTACRUZ ESCUDERO, José Manuel. Review of Debriefing as an Intervention in Crisis and in Preventing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2008, vol.37, suppl.1, pp.198-205. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: The risk or actual exposure to an emotionally challenging event can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. The increase in such situations, whether caused by natural phenomena or by human beings, creates a need for effective preventive or management strategies. Debriefing is a simple and low-cost intervention. Objective: To review the debriefing technique. Method: Literature review. Development: Debriefing is usually brief and based on catharsis, but with debatable results. A review of the available literature shows opposite points of view. Some authors praise its benefi ts, while others classify it as plain and risky. One possible explanation to these confusing results is the variations in the application of the original technique. Conclusion: Studies detailing which of the variations is employed are required to achieve reliable results.

Keywords : Debriefing; stress disorder; crisis intervention.

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