Psychological First Aid

Abstract

Psychological First Aid (PFA) consists of a systematic set of helping actions aimed at reducing initial post-trauma distress and supporting short- and long-term adaptive functioning. Designed as an initial component of a comprehensive disaster/trauma response, PFA is constructed around eight core actions: contact and engagement, safety and comfort, stabilization, information gathering, practical assistance, connection with social supports, information on coping support, and linkage with collaborative services. PFA for children and adolescents focuses on these same core actions, with modifications to make them developmentally appropriate. Formal evaluation of the effectiveness of PFA is needed and it is hoped that development of a PFA Field Operations Guide will facilitate such evaluation.

Prevención de trastorno de estrés postraumático en supervivientes del terremoto de Chile de febrero de 2010: una propuesta de intervención narrativa

“…Al estudiar las intervenciones preventivas que se han utilizado, descubrimos resultados contradictorios en cuanto a su efectividad, con evidencia de daño iatrogénico como en el debriefing, aun hoy muy popular para el apoyo inicial de los supervivientes. Por otro lado, la imperiosa necesidad de obtener ayuda material en los primeros tiempos tras un terremoto, dificulta la acción directa de los profesionales de salud mental, haciéndose más recomendable capacitar, para que sean una oportunidad de apoyo emocional, a los voluntarios que entregan ayuda directa, tal como se sugiere en los Primeros Auxilios Psicológicos (Ruzek et al, 2007).…”

Federal Disaster Mental Health Response and Compliance with Best Practices

“…Exposure to disasters immediately challenge survivors and evoke an instant response (Ruzek, Brymer, Jacobs, Layne, Vernberg, & Watson, 2007). Those who have endured longterm exposure and those who have witnessed death are at the most risk for developing long-term illnesses (DeWolfe, 2000).…”

“…Those who have endured longterm exposure and those who have witnessed death are at the most risk for developing long-term illnesses (DeWolfe, 2000). Given the magnitude of traumatic events to produce great distress, disaster mental health response covers efforts to tend to survivors in the immediate aftermath of disaster and to respond to their psychological needs (Ruzek et al, 2007). Freedy and Simpson (2007) described the psychological impact of disaster on survivor's mental health, which includes emotional liability, negative emotions, cognitive dysfunction and distortions, physical symptoms, irritability, distrust, withdrawal, and a needed sense of control.…”

Prevention of Psychopathological Consequences in Survivors of Tsunamis

“…This therapy involves the exposure to emotional memories of traumatic events and the reorganization of these memories into a chronological coherent narrative (Robjant & Fazel, 2010). McNally et al (2003) and Ruzek et al (2007) warn that while clinical interventions (especially those found in cognitive-behavioral spectrum) have proven effective, this has not been empirically examined in the immediate aftermath (0-14 days) in trauma. Therefore, it does not correspond to models of early intervention and prevention.…”