Skip to main content
Full access
Article
Published Online: February 1998

Effect of Staff Debriefing on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms After Assaults by Community Housing Residents

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The study examined the efficacy of critical incident stress debriefing in ameliorating the impact of posttraumatic stress on direct care psychiatric workers after a traumatic event at work. METHODS: Sixty-three direct care workers from two areas in Sydney, Australia, who worked in community residences for persons with developmental and psychiatric disabilities were surveyed about symptoms of intrusive thoughts, avoidance, and hyperarousal one week after they experienced an assault or another type of work-related trauma. Survey respondents included 14 workers who requested and attended a one-session critical incident stress debriefing during the week after the incident, 18 workers from the same area of Sydney who had access to the intervention but chose not to attend, and 31 who worked in an area where the intervention was not available. RESULTS: Sixty-two workers reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Lower levels were reported by workers in the area where the intervention was available. When other factors were controlled, the lowest levels of stress were reported by workers to whom the debriefing was available but who chose not to attend. No significant difference in overall stress reduction in the week after the incident was found between the workers who received the intervention and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Although critical incident stress debriefing was evaluated positively by the majority of participants, aspects of the intervention such as its timing and the work environment in which it is offered may affect the degree to which participants benefit from it.

Formats available

You can view the full content in the following formats:

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services
Pages: 207 - 212
PubMed: 9575006

History

Published in print: February 1998
Published online: 1 April 2006

Authors

Details

Lynda R. Matthews, B.Hlth.Sc.(Hons.)

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard

View Options

View options

PDF/ePub

View PDF/ePub

Full Text

View Full Text

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login
Purchase Options

Purchase this article to access the full text.

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share