Critical Issue Analysis

After reading the selected critical issue, use the following questions to analyze the issue.

1. What are at least two facts presented by each side of the critical issue?

Devilly and Cotton Facts-

1. The author's states that Critical incidence stress debriefing (CISD) has been replaced by critical incident stress management (CISM) due to the amount of evidence that does not support CISD.

2. Statistical facts presented claim that 8% of people that have acute stress disorder will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder if they received cognitive behavioral therapy early on. Devilly and Cotton also state that cognitive behavioral therapy may be more effective in preventing acute stress disorder from turning into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than that of CISD.

Mitchell Facts-

1. Mitchell argues that CISD was mistaken as a term used to encompass the entire field but that it was published by the Internal Critical Incident Stress Foundation that CISA is a 6 step process that includes small group discussions and that CISM is the term used to cover the entire field.

2. Mitchell states that there has not been a documented occurrence of negatively associated with CISD when well trained professionals are completing the treatment. CISD and CBT are two different methods used in responding to ASD and should not be in competition.

2. What are at least two opinions presented by each side of the critical issue?

Devilly and Cotton

1. Generic psychological debriefing is useless and might actually increase the risk associated with developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

2. State that depression is likely to be the effect of depression

Mitchell

1. States that Devilly and Cotton only cite studies in which the debriefing only occurred one time and that the Internal Critical Incident Stress Foundation does not recommend use of such material.

2. States that in the events of disaster the CISM representatives typically use more resources that CISD alone. States that CISD can be used in multiple scenarios not just disasters and crisis situations.

3. What are some of the strengths associated with the Pro side of the issue? What are some of the weaknesses?

In my opinion Devilly and Cotton do a great job at explaining and providing adequate evidence that single-session debriefing (without a stringent phase based strategy) is invalid. After reading this article I do believe that debriefing immediately after the event can be potentially harmful to person since he or she would have to relive the event again which could increase the exposure of the event. I believe the weakness of this article is that they limit many treatments of trauma that are not CISD without referencing the Internal Critical Incident Stress Foundation, which may have lead to the concept of misrepresentation of CISD.

4. What are some of the strengths associated with the Con side of the issue? What are some of the weaknesses?

The strengths