Guideline for Early Interventions

In the Netherlands, acute psychological assistance, also referred to as 'early interventions' or 'debriefing', is offered following shocking events. These may be large scale disasters or calamities, but also military deployment and individual incidents. During the last years, the demand for early interventions has been increasing. International literature has shown that the psychosocial effects of disaster and military deployment may last for years. Therefore psychosocial care is essential, but it may be questioned if those affected benefit from early interventions that are offered nowadays. In scientific literature there is growing consensus that single session debriefing is not effective and even may do harm. Despite this unequivocal conclusion, single session debriefing is still practised. Furthermore, experts do not agree on the appropriate moment when early interventions should take place, what disciplines are best equipped to do the job and what methodology should be followed. Until now, interpretation, practice and possibly the follow-up of early interventions depend on the view of organisations, individual careproviders and various interests. As a result of this, early interventions are offered in many ways, and those affected are not always treated in accordance with best-practices. In short, on the shop-floor and in the theatre, careproviders have doubts on early interventions. Therefore, it is crucial to make evidence based recommendations. The Impact Foundation develops, in collaboration with the Trimbos institute for mental health and subsidised by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, an evidence based guideline for early interventions following disaster, terrorism and other schocking events. Based on the latest insights from literature and daily practice, this guideline addresses what works, what doesn't work and what the gaps are in our knowledge.