Definition
According to the NC-PTSD, psychological first aid is an evidence-informed modular approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism to reduce initial distress and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning. It was used by non-mental health experts, such as responders and volunteers. Other characteristics include non-intrusive pragmatic care and assessing needs. PFA does not necessarily involve discussion of the traumatic event.Components
* Protecting from further harm * Opportunity to talk without pressure * Active listening * Compassion * Addressing and acknowledging concerns * Discussing coping strategies * Social support * Offer to return to talk * ReferralSteps
* Contact and engagement * Safety and comfort * Stabilization * Information gathering * Practical assistance * Connection with social supports * Coping information * Linkage with servicesHistory
Before PFA, there was a procedure known as debriefing. It was intended to reduce the incidences of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a major disaster. PTSD is now widely known to be debilitating; sufferers experience avoidance, flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, and numbness. Debriefing procedures were made a requirement after a disaster, with a desire to prevent people from developing PTSD. The idea behind it was to promote emotional processing by encouraging recollection of the event. Debriefing has origins with the military, where sessions were intended to boost morale and reduce distress after a mission. Debriefing was done in a single session with seven stages: introduction, facts, thoughts and impressions, emotional reactions, normalization, planning for future, and disengagement. Debriefing was found to be at best, ineffective, and at worst, harmful. There are several theories as to why debriefing increased incidents of PTSD. First, those who were likely to develop PTSD were not helped by a single session. Second, being re-exposed too soon to the trauma could lead to retraumatization. Exposure therapy in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) allows the person to adjust to the stimuli before slowly increasing severity. Debriefing did not allow for this. Also, normal distress was seen to be pathological after a debriefing and those who had been through a trauma thought they had a mental disorder because they were upset. Debriefing assumes that everyone reacts the same way to a trauma, and anyone who deviates from that path, is pathological. But there are many ways to cope with a trauma, especially so soon after it happens. PFA seems to address many of the issues in debriefing. It is not compulsory and can be done in multiple sessions and links those who need more help to services. It deals with practical issues which are often more pressing and create stress. It also improves self-efficacy by letting people cope their own way. PFA has attempted to beNotes
References
* * * * * * * * * Uhernik & Husson. 2009. PFA: "Evidence Informed Approach for Acute Disaster Behavioral Health Response". ''Compelling Counseling Interventions''. 271–280. * {{cite journal , last1 = Vernberg , display-authors = etal , year = 2008 , title = Innovations in Disaster Mental Health: PFA , journal = Professional Psychology: Research and Practice , volume = 39 , issue = 4, pages = 381–388 , doi=10.1037/a0012663 Preventive medicine