Reducing Psychological Harm from Traumatic Events Among Children and Adolescents: Psychological Debriefing
Task Force Finding*
Psychological debriefing, also known as critical-incident stress management, is intended to be a group meeting offered shortly after a traumatic event for the purpose of preventing the development of adverse reactions.
The Task Force finds insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of psychological debriefing in reducing psychological harm in children and adolescents, because only one study of good quality of execution was found and suggested no effect.
*From the following publication:
Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations to reduce psychological harm from traumatic events among children and adolescents. 
[PDF - 58KB] Am J Prev Med 2008;35(3):314-6.
Review completed: June 2006
- Page last reviewed: February 7, 2011
- Page last updated: October 18, 2010
- Content source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services
