Psychological Debriefing Does Not Prevent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

By Richard J. McNally, Ph.D. | April 1, 2004

Each of these specious critiques is devoid of merit, and each has been rebutted in detail elsewhere (for a review, see McNally et al. [2003]). Although debriefing advocates often complain that researchers fail to follow protocol precisely in studies showing null or toxic effects, these advocates must first demonstrate that their method actually works. Then their complaints about protocol departures may be warranted--only after they have furnished convincing evidence of the efficacy of their method.

Conclusions

Despite repeated attempts to document that psychological debriefing can prevent posttraumatic psychopathology, there is no convincing evidence that it does so. Even if the procedure is not harmful, its continued implementation may delay the development of truly effective crisis interventions, while wasting time, money and resources on a method that is, at best, inert.

Dr. McNally is professor of psychology at Harvard University. He has more than 230 publications, many on PTSD, and is author of the book Remembering Trauma (2003), Belknap Press/Harvard University Press.

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References

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Psychological Debriefing Does Not Prevent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Conclusions

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