Effect of timing of critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) on posttraumatic symptoms

Seventy-seven civilian employees who were victims of robbery were randomly as signed to either an immediate (< 10 hr) or delayed (> 48 hr) debriefing group, using the J. Mitchell (1983) CISD protocol. Scores on the Posttrauma tic Stress Diagnostic Scale were obtained at 4 time intervals: debrief 2 an d 4 days post-debrief and 2 weeks postrobbery. The number and severity of s ymptoms did not differ at debrief bur were lower for the immediate than for the delayed group at each subsequent time interval. The number and severit y of symptoms declined across time intervals: however, although this reduct ion was pronounced for the immediate group it,was minimal for the delayed g roup. The results supported use of immediate debriefing with this type of i ncident and victim.