Summary
Details
- Definitions
- Preparing for disaster
- The mental health impact of disasters
- Outreach and screening
- Management of acute mental health responses
- Management of long-term mental health problems
- Role of systems management
- Next steps
Contributors
Authors
Joshua C. Morganstein, MD
Professor of Psychiatry & Military and Emergency Medicine
Senior Scientist
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS)
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
Bethesda
MD
Disclosures
JCM declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Joshua C. Morganstein would like to gratefully acknowledge Professor Craig L. Katz, Dr R. Gregg Dwyer and Dr Mindy T. Fullilove, previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
CLK is a trauma consultant for Advanced Recovery Systems. CLK is an author of references cited in this topic. MTF is the author of some studies referenced in this topic. RGD declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Carol North, MD
The Nancy and Ray L. Hunt Chair in Crisis Psychiatry and Professor of Psychiatry
Director
Division of Trauma and Disaster
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas
TX
Disclosures
CN is the author of some studies referenced in this topic.
Chris Brewin, PhD
Professor of Clinical Psychology
Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology
University College
London
UK
Disclosures
CB is the author of one study referenced in this topic.
Peer reviewer acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.
Disclosures
Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.
References
Key articles
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA/DOD clinical practice guidelines: management of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder 2023. Jun 2023 [internet pubication].Full text
Bisson JI, Tavakoly B, Witteveen AB, et al. TENTS guidelines: development of post-disaster psychosocial care guidelines through a Delphi process. Br J Psychiatry. 2010;196:69-74.Full text Abstract
Brymer M, Layne C, Jacobs AK, et al. Psychological first aid field operations guide. 2nd ed. Los Angeles, CA: National Child Traumatic Stress Network and National Center for PTSD; 2006.
World Health Organization. Psychological first aid: guide for fieldworkers. Geneva: WHO; 2011.
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
Patient information
Post-traumatic stress disorder
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