RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DEBRIEFING FOR VICTIMS OF ACUTE BURN TRAUMA

Background Psychological debriefing (PD) is widely used following majo r traumatic events in an attempt to reduce psychological sequelae. Met hod One hundred and thirty-three adult burn trauma victims entered the study. After initial questionnaire completion, participants were rand omly allocated to an individual/couple PD group or a control group who received no intervention; 110 (83%) were interviewed by an assessor b lind to PD status three and 13 months later. Results Sixteen (26%) of the PD group had PTSD at 13-month follow-up, compared with four (9%) o f the control group. The PD group had higher initial questionnaire sco res and more severe dimensions of burn trauma than the control group, both of which were associated with a poorer outcome. Conclusions This study seriously questions the wisdom of advocating one-off interventio ns post-trauma, and should stimulate research into more effective init iatives.