Critical Incident Interventions

2017 ◽  
pp. 119-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Brucia ◽  
Matthew J. Cordova ◽  
Josef I. Ruzek
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Critical Incidents ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Police Culture ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Stress Debriefing

Police officers are exposed to many critical incidents throughout their careers. This chapter discusses critical incident exposure and psychological sequelae in police officers, police culture, obstacles to mental health care, currently utilized early interventions, existing research for these approaches, alternative evidence-based early interventions, emerging models, and directions for future research. Given the frequency and potential impact of critical incidents, early intervention for exposed police officers is of central importance. One of the most commonly utilized group early interventions, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), has limited empirical support, such that some departments are being advised against its use. That said, there are important challenges in identifying better, evidence-based alternatives.

Critical Incident Interventions

2019 ◽  
pp. 159-182
Author(s):  
Emily Brucia ◽  
Matthew J. Cordova ◽  
Josef I. Ruzek
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Critical Incidents ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Police Culture ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Stress Debriefing

Police officers are exposed to many critical incidents throughout their careers. This chapter discusses critical incident exposure and psychological sequelae in police officers, police culture, obstacles to mental health care, currently utilized early interventions, existing research for these approaches, alternative evidence-based early interventions, emerging models, and directions for future research. Given the frequency and potential impact of critical incidents, early intervention for exposed police officers is of central importance. One of the most commonly utilized group early interventions, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), has limited empirical support, such that some departments are being advised against its use. That said, there are important challenges in identifying better, evidence-based alternatives.

Application and Integration of Psychological First Aid in First Responder Organizations

2021 ◽  
pp. 813-837
Author(s):  
Emily F. Brucia ◽  
Matthew J. Cordova ◽  
Angelique Finestone ◽  
Josef I. Ruzek
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Trauma Recovery ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Psychological First Aid ◽  
Stress Debriefing

First responders are exposed to many potentially traumatic events throughout their careers. Given the risk of adverse mental and physical health outcomes secondary to frequent trauma exposure, access to culturally-sensitive, evidence-informed early intervention is paramount. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and components therein (e.g., Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, peer support) represent the most commonly utilized early interventions within first responder organizations. Limited research has evaluated these models, and evaluation of early interventions presents many challenges due to characteristics of first responder cultures and organizational demands and constraints. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a widely endorsed and promising evidence-informed early intervention model grounded in research on trauma recovery and resilience. This chapter examines the theoretical underpinnings and core actions of PFA and describes the potentially diverse applications of PFA within first responder organizations and concludes by discussing recommendations and future directions.

Best Practice in Responding to Critical Incidents and Potentially Traumatic Experience Within an Organisational Setting

2017 ◽  
pp. 732-754
Author(s):  
Carole Adamson
Keyword(s):  
Critical Incident ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Critical Incidents ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Extreme Stress ◽  
Psychological Debriefing ◽  
Stress Debriefing

This chapter addresses best practice for organisational support after critical incidents and traumatic events within social work. Critical incidents are situations and incidents within workplace settings or roles, which, whilst able to be anticipated and planned for, have the potential to create a sense of emergency, crisis, and extreme stress, or have a traumatic impact on those directly or indirectly affected. Alongside the notion of critical incidents are concepts of debriefing, psychological debriefing, critical incident stress debriefing (CISD), and critical incident stress management (CISM). Debate about debriefing models has concerned their effectiveness and safety; the terms being loaded with meaning and tensions between scientific and holistic paradigms and between academic and practitioner perspectives. The chapter suggests areas of research and exploration for agency managers and senior practitioners wishing to make sense of the debates and enables the reader to consider best practice for critical incident response within organisational settings.

Duty-Related Stressors and PTSD Symptoms in Suburban Police Officers

1997 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 835-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly M. Robinson ◽  
Melissa R. Sigman ◽  
John P. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Stress Debriefing ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Suburban Police

This study examined the effects of duty-related stress on police officers. Using a sample of 100 suburban police officers, an anonymous questionnaire requested demographic information and included a measure of duty-related stressors, SCL-90–R, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder scale of the Impact of Events Scale-Revised, and a locus of control scale. Also assessed was whether Critical Incident Stress Debriefing was experienced. The results showed significant correlations between scores on duty-related stress, somatization, and symptoms of PTSD. 13% of the sample met the DSM-IV (1994) diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Results of the regression analysis showed the best predictors for the diagnosis of PTSD were associated with the factor of Exposure to Death and Life Threat, which corresponds to the DSM-IV AI criteria. Finally, 63% of the respondents stated that a critical incident debriefing would be beneficial following an extremely stressful event related to duty.

Best Practice in Responding to Critical Incidents and Potentially Traumatic Experience within an Organisational Setting

2014 ◽  
pp. 302-323
Author(s):  
Carole Adamson
Keyword(s):  
Critical Incident ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Critical Incidents ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Extreme Stress ◽  
Psychological Debriefing ◽  
Stress Debriefing

This chapter addresses best practice for organisational support after critical incidents and traumatic events within social work. Critical incidents are situations and incidents within workplace settings or roles, which, whilst able to be anticipated and planned for, have the potential to create a sense of emergency, crisis, and extreme stress, or have a traumatic impact on those directly or indirectly affected. Alongside the notion of critical incidents are concepts of debriefing, psychological debriefing, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Debate about debriefing models has concerned their effectiveness and safety; the terms being loaded with meaning and tensions between scientific and holistic paradigms and between academic and practitioner perspectives. The chapter suggests areas of research and exploration for agency managers and senior practitioners wishing to make sense of the debates and enables the reader to consider best practice for critical incident response within organisational settings.

Application and Integration of Psychological First Aid in First Responder Organizations

2020 ◽  
pp. 129-153
Author(s):  
Emily F. Brucia ◽  
Matthew J. Cordova ◽  
Angelique Finestone ◽  
Josef I. Ruzek
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Trauma Recovery ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Psychological First Aid ◽  
Stress Debriefing

First responders are exposed to many potentially traumatic events throughout their careers. Given the risk of adverse mental and physical health outcomes secondary to frequent trauma exposure, access to culturally-sensitive, evidence-informed early intervention is paramount. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and components therein (e.g., Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, peer support) represent the most commonly utilized early interventions within first responder organizations. Limited research has evaluated these models, and evaluation of early interventions presents many challenges due to characteristics of first responder cultures and organizational demands and constraints. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a widely endorsed and promising evidence-informed early intervention model grounded in research on trauma recovery and resilience. This chapter examines the theoretical underpinnings and core actions of PFA and describes the potentially diverse applications of PFA within first responder organizations and concludes by discussing recommendations and future directions.

A Model for a Statewide Critical Incident Stress (CIS) Debriefing Program for Emergency Services Personnel

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith W. Neely ◽  
William J. Spitzer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Fire Department ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Emergency Services Personnel ◽  
Response Team

AbstractPurpose:Emergency services personnel are highly vulnerable to acute and cumulative critical incident stress (CIS) that can manifest as anger, guilt, depression, and impaired decision-making, and, in certain instances, job loss. Interventions designed to identify such distress and restore psychological functioning becomes imperative.Methods:A statewide debriefing team was formed in 1988 through a collaborative effort between an academic department of emergency medicine and a social work department of a teaching hospital, and a metropolitan area fire department and ambulance service. Using an existing CIS debriefing model, 84 pre-screened, mental health professionals and emergency services personnel were provided with 16 hours of training and were grouped into regional teams.Debriefing requests are received through a central number answered by a communicator in a 24-hour communications center located within the emergency department. Debriefings are conducted 48–72 hours after the event for specific types of incidents. Follow-up telephone calls are made by the debriefing team leader two to three weeks following a debriefing. The teams rely on donations to pay for travel and meals.Results:One hundred sixty-eight debriefings were conducted during the first four years. Rural agencies accounted for 116 (69%) requests. During this period, 1,514 individuals were debriefed: 744 (49%) firefighters, 460 (30%) EMTs, and 310 (21%) police officers, dispatchers, and other responders. Deaths of children, extraordinary events, and incidents involving victims known to the responders (35%, 14%, and 14% respectively) were the most common reasons for requesting debriefings. Feedback was received from 48 (28%) of the agencies that requested the debriefing. All of those who responded felt that the debriefing had a beneficial effect on its personnel. Specific individuals identified by agency representatives as having the greatest difficulty were observed to be returned to their pre-incident state.Conclusion:CIS debriefings are judged as beneficial. A statewide response team is an effective way to provide these services at no cost to agencies.

China in Africa: a critical literature review

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdoulkadre Ado ◽  
Zhan Su
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Current State ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Critical Literature

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically assesses the major contributions to the academic literature on China’s increased focus on Africa, from 2001 to 2011. It discusses the key trends concerning China’s presence in Africa and draws conclusions on the significance of the studies by emphasizing and contrasting the prevailing positions. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a qualitative approach using an integrative and comprehensive literature review, the authors performed a content analysis of high-impact, peer-reviewed papers. Findings – The paper questions and repositions some of the existing controversies. The results from existing studies remain questionable, requiring further clarification and more theoretical backing. It, moreover, highlights the notion that behind the explicit neutrality views of China’s presence in Africa, implicit assumptions may exist. These are often the differences in narratives conveyed by Western and Southern stakeholders. Research limitations/implications – Most of the conclusions drawn from this paper need to be re-explored and supported by additional research. This could be done by widening the scope of the analysis. Studies need to provide more empirical support for their assertions through quantitative data and evidence-based qualitative analyses – all within a framework that considers more cultural, social and historical dimensions. The paper also suggests that an institutionally based view appears most relevant in better explaining China in Africa. Originality/value – This paper reviews a decade of research on China in Africa and presents a snapshot of the current state of knowledge. It also raises concerns to be analyzed by future research and proposes new avenues for better understanding China’s presence in Africa.

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