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Critical Incident StressManagement
By:The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
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Lt Col Sherry Jones, RN, EMTP, CAP
Psych/English: AAS, AA, AGE, ADN; RN, EMTP10 years EMS, 7 years Level One Trauma Center ERCrisis Team Member IMT/Southfield, MIIntroduced/designed CISM program MIWG 97
Introd CISM at CAP NB 1998/1st CAP Team Nationally CAP GLR CISM Team (ICISF Registered)
Civil Air Patrol member since 1990 SQ PAO/SOA, CVC, Group Admin., MIWG PAO/PAOA, MIWG
Medical Director/SOA, MIWG CISTC-A (ADY), GLR CISM Director (ADY), NHQ SANC-CISM
DFI International (DHS/ODP)/National CISM Work Group
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Course Overview Major TopicsKey Concepts in Psychological CrisisCrisis-Related SymptomsCrisis Assessments / Follow-up & ReferralCrisis Communication TechniquesCrisis Intervention
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Major Topics:CISM Interventions
Pre-Incident Preparation & EducationOne-on-One Crisis InterventionDemobilizationCrisis Management Briefing
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Major Topics:DefusingCritical Incident Stress DebriefingFamily SupportOrganizational / Community Crisis ResponsePastoral Crisis Intervention
ICISF CISM: A Standard of CareNorthwest Flight 255 crash CISM in CAP: CAPR 60-5
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http://www.chevronpublishing.com
Critical Incident Stress
DebriefingAn Operations Manual for CISD,
Defusing and Other Group Crisis Intervention Services
Third Edition
Jeffrey T. Mitchell, Ph.D., CTSGeorge S. Everly, Jr., Ph.D., CTS
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Nature of Stress
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StressWear and Tear
(Selye, 1976)
A State of Physical and Psychological Arousal in Response to a Stimulus
Excessive Stress and Psychological Trauma Are Just As Potentially Disabling As Is Physical traumatization.
(Mitchell/Everly 1993)Pg. 33Pg. 33--3838
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Categories of StressGeneralCumulativeCritical incident (traumatic stress)Post traumatic stress disorder
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Initially stress reactions are adaptive and helpful. As the stress reactions increase, however, there is a greater chance that they will be maladaptive and disruptive.
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Signs and Symptoms of StressCognitive
Physical
Pg. 52/137Pg. 52/137
Emotional
Behavioral
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Terrorism: A Unique Cause of Stress
The explicit goal of this form of trauma / disaster is to create a condition of fear, uncertainty, demoralization, & helplessness as a coercive force.
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Terrorism represents a form of psychological warfare. The war will ultimately be won or lost not on the battlefield, but in the mind.
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Critical Incidents
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Critical Incidents:
Events that have the potential to create significant human distress and can overwhelm ones usual coping mechanisms.
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The Terrible Ten (Emergency Services):Suicide of a colleagueLine of duty deathSerious line of duty injuryDisaster/multiple casualtyPolice shootings/accidental killing or wounding of innocent person(s)
Pg. 6Pg. 6
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The Terrible Ten (Emerg. Svcs.):Significant events involving childrenProlonged incidents, especially with a lossPersonally threatening situationsEvents with excessive media interestAny significant event capable of causing considerable emotional distress for those who are exposed to it
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Crisis
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The psychological distress in response to critical incidents
such as mass disasters, traumatic events, or
terrorist attacks, is called a PSYCHOLOGICAL CRISIS.
(Everly & Mitchell, 1999)
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Psychological Crisis:An Acute Response to a Trauma, Disaster, or Other Critical Incident Wherein:1) Psychological Balance Is Disrupted2) Ones Usual Coping Mechanisms Have Failed3) Evidence of Significant Distress,
Impairment, Dysfunction
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Characteristics of CrisisMaturational Crisis
Former coping skills arent workingTemporary disequilibrium: resolution can come through support systems
Alcohol/drugs interrupt progression: skill development arrests at age when abuse began
Situational CrisisCritical life problem arises from an external source
Job change/loss, death of loved one, divorce
Threatens self-concept and self-esteemMitchell & Everly, 2002 22
The Need for Crisis Services:Over 80% US Citizens Exposed to TraumaAbout 30% of Those Exposed Will Develop PTSD40% US Children Exposed to Trauma14% Violent Crimes Occur at Work16% Viet Nam Veterans Develop PTSD
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The Need for Crisis Services:31% Urban Firefighters Report Symptoms of PTSD10-15% Law Enforcement Personnel Develop PTSDPolice = 8.6x Greater Risk of Suicide than Accidental DeathNIOSH Recommends Workplace Crisis Intervention Systems
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The Need for Crisis Services:Up to 35% disaster victims develop PTSDMass disasters and terrorism will create more psychological casualties than physical casualtiesOver 50% of disaster workers can be expected to develop significant posttraumatic distress (Wee & Myers, 2001)
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The Need for Crisis Services:Estimated 1.5 Million People In NYC May Need Counseling Post September 11th (U.S. Center for Mental Health Services)Random NYC Survey (Manhattan): 7.5% PTSD, 9.7% Depression, 20% PTSD In Close Proximity to WTC
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Research has shown that human-made disasters are more psychologically pathogenic than are natural disasters. Terrorism may be the most pathogenic of all due to its UNPREDICTABLE and UNRESTRAINED nature.
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5 Antidotes for Crisis:Structure for ChaosCognition for Excessive EmotionCatharsis and Disclosure for Psychological TensionUnderstanding for Loss of ControlAction for Helplessness
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Crisis Work Believes in the Inherent STRENGTHS of the Person in Crisis and Builds on These,
You Do Not Look for Pathology As You Might in a More Traditional Therapeutic Environment.
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Crisis Related Symptoms:Anxiety, PanicAngerHelplessnessSuicidal Ideation
ViolenceImpulsivitySelf-medicationDepression
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Crisis-Related Symptoms:PeritraumaticDissociationPsychophysiologicalDisorderSomatoform Conversion Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Brief Psychosis
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Major Depression:Depressed MoodAnhedonia, LethargyTerminal InsomniaPsychomotor RetardationExcessive Weight LossReduced Libido
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Major Depression:GuiltDiminished Personal HygieneHopelessnessHelplessnessWorthlessnessSuicidal Ideation
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Suicidal Risk Increases With:IsolationAgitationRigid CompulsivityProximity to Lethal MeansFinancial or Marital ProblemsPainful or Terminal Illness
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Suicidal Risk Increases With:Adolescence and ElderlyHopelessnessPrevious Suicide AttemptsHistory in the FamilySevere GuiltDetailed Plan
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Suicide Intervention:EmpowerContradict HopelessnessListen IntentlyValidate EmotionsAssist in Finding Alternatives
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Common Forms of Self-medication:
Stimulants (Caffeine, Amphetamine, Cocaine)Depressants (Alcohol, Nicotine)HallucinogensAntihistamines
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Acute Posttraumatic Stress (Critical Incident Stress) Is a Normal Reaction in Normal
People to an Abnormal Event.
Oh ****!Mitchell & Everly, 2002 38
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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
First Named in 1980Anxiety DisorderStarts With The Same Traumatic Event That Initiates Critical Incident Stress
Pg. 49, 53Pg. 49, 53
Symptoms: Intrusive Memories, Avoidance, ArousalSymptoms Last 30 Days or MoreProduces Significant Disruption to Normal Life Pursuits
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PTSD:General Population: 1-3%Urban Adolescents: 9%Viet Nam Veterans: 15-20% Emergency Services Personnel: 15-32%
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Crisis Assessments
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Acute Mental Status Assessment:IntoxicationHead InjuryPsychotic ProcessDelusionsHomicidal IdeationSuicidal Ideation
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Acute Mental Status Assessment:OrientationLong-term MemoryConcentrationEmotion
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Follow-up & Referral:
One of the most convincing reasons for instituting a crisis intervention program is to identify those who require or desire continued care, and to facilitate access to that care. (Triage)
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When to Refer For Follow-up:Persistent SymptomsSuicidal / Homicidal IdeationDisabling SymptomsEvidence of Cognitive ImpairmentWhen in Doubt
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Where to Refer:Medical / Legal ServicesFamily Support ProgramsFinancial Aid ServicesReligious / Spiritual ServicesPsychological ServicesPsychiatric Ser
