Single session debriefing after psychological trauma: a meta-analysis
Abstract
Background Despite conflicting research findings and uncertain efficacy, single session debriefing is standard clinical practice after traumatic events. We aimed to assess the efficacy of this intervention in prevention of chronic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and other disorders after trauma.Methods In a meta-analysis, we selected appropriate studies from databases (Medline Advanced, PsychINFO, and PubMed), the Journal of Traumatic Stress, and reference lists of articles and book chapters. Inclusion criteria were that single session debriefing had been done within 1 month after trauma, symptoms were assessed with widely accepted clinical outcome measures, and data from psychological assessments that had been done before (pretest data) and after (post-test data) interventions and were essential for calculation of effect sizes had been reported. We included seven studies in final analyses, in which there were five critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) interventions, three non-CISD interventions, and six no-intervention controls.Findings Non-CISD interventions and no intervention improved symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, but CISD did not improve symptoms (weighted mean effect sizes 0.65 [95% CI 0.14-1.16], 0.47 [0.28-0.66], and 0.13 [-0.29 to 0.55], respectively). CISD did not improve natural recovery from other trauma-related disorders (0.12 [-0.22 to 0.47]).Interpretation CISD and non-CISD interventions do not improve natural recovery from psychological trauma.
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External pressure to disclose can hinder the benefits of trauma disclosure.
“there is evidence that external pressure to disclose can hinder the benefits of trauma disclosure.”
From Feeling pressured to talk about trauma: How pressure to disclose alters the association between trauma disclosure and posttraumatic growth (2023) · cites this paper as van Emmerik et al., 2002
Some potentially pressured disclosures (e.g., trauma debriefing) have come into question due to concerns that they are not effective and may even be harmful.
“Some potentially pressured disclosures (e.g., trauma debriefing) have come into question due to concerns that they are not effective (e.g., O'Donnell et al., 2020) and may even be harmful (e.g., van Emmerik et al., 2002).”
From Feeling pressured to talk about trauma: How pressure to disclose alters the association between trauma disclosure and posttraumatic growth (2023) · cites this paper as van Emmerik et al., 2002
Trauma disclosures that occur as the result of pressure from others may lead to more negative outcomes for trauma survivors.
“Yet, trauma disclosures that occur as the result of pressure from others may lead to more negative outcomes for trauma survivors (van Emmerik et al., 2002).”
From Feeling pressured to talk about trauma: How pressure to disclose alters the association between trauma disclosure and posttraumatic growth (2023) · cites this paper as van Emmerik et al., 2002
Reviews have suggested that at this time the procedure is ineffective and may even be harmful.
“Reviews have suggested that at this time the procedure is ineffective and may even be harmful”
From Episodic memory, perceptual memory, and their interaction: Foundations for a theory of posttraumatic stress disorder. (2014) · cites this paper as van Emmerik, Kamphuis, Hulsbosch, & Emmelkamp, 2002
Some trauma interventions can be ineffective or even harmful, especially in the acute phase after the traumatic event.
“However, since research has shown that some trauma interventions can be ineffective or even harmful, especially in the acute phase after the traumatic event [5,6], only psychological interventions with empirically verified efficacy should be applied during emergency situations.”
From Treating children traumatized by war and tsunami: a comparison between exposure therapy and meditation-relaxation in north-east Sri Lanka (2009) · cites this paper as [6]
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- Authors
- van Emmerik, A. A., Kamphuis, J. H., Hulsbosch, A. M., & Emmelkamp, P. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Venue
- The Lancet
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-09
- Volume
- 360
- Issue
- 9335
- Pages
- 766-771
- ISSN
- 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
- 0140-6736
- OpenAlex
- W2107876006
- Cited by
- 644
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 5.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Lancet (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- ZonMw
- Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Keywords
- critical incident stress debriefing, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological trauma, trauma recovery, natural recovery, trauma-related disorders, intervention efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Counseling, Crisis Intervention, Female, Humans, Male, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Time Factors
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