CRISIS SUPPORT AND EMOTIONAL-REACTIONS FOLLOWING TRAUMA

Although exposure to a traumatic event is thought to be a necessary ae tiological factor in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder , evidence would suggest that it is not sufficient and that other fact ors may also be important in determining the severity and chronicity o f symptoms. One such factor is the crisis support received from family and friends. Several studies have been carried out investigating the role of crisis support. These will be discussed along with the possibl e implications for therapeutic intervention.