Table_2_Revisiting the debriefing debate: does psychological debriefing reduce PTSD symptomology following work-related trauma? A meta-analysis.docx

Psychological debriefing is an early post-trauma intervention which aims to prevent the development of PTSD and accelerate normal recovery through discussing, validating, and normalising group members responses to trauma. While originally designed in the 1980s for groups of emergency service personnel, the scope of psychological debriefing extended to individual primary victims of trauma. A Cochrane review in 2002 concluded that psychological debriefing was ineffective, yet some authors have argued that many of the studies that informed the Cochrane review did not adhere to key elements of psychological debriefing. This meta-analysis sought to re-examine the effectiveness of psychological debriefing in preventing or reducing PTSD symptoms following work-related trauma. Appropriate studies were selected from three databases (MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO). Inclusion criteria was intentionally broad so that features of psychological debriefing that may determine its effectiveness could be explored through a series of subgroup analyses. The overall synthesis did not find consistent evidence that psychological debriefing helps to prevent or reduce PTSD symptoms following work-related trauma. Shortcomings in the methodology and reporting of many of the studies meant that several important subgroup analyses could not be conducted. Further well-designed studies in this field are warranted to ensure that employees exposed to potentially traumatic events receive the effective support they need and deserve.

心理危机晤谈（psychological debriefing）是一种创伤后早期干预手段，旨在通过讨论、确认并使群体成员对创伤事件的反应正常化，预防创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的发生并加速个体的正常康复进程。该方法最初于20世纪80年代为应急服务人员群体设计，其应用范围现已拓展至创伤事件的个体直接受害者。2002年的一项考克兰系统评价（Cochrane review）得出结论认为心理危机晤谈并无实效，但部分学者指出，支撑该考克兰系统评价的多项研究并未遵循心理危机晤谈的核心实施要素。本元分析（meta-analysis）旨在重新检验心理危机晤谈在预防或减轻职业创伤后创伤后应激障碍症状方面的有效性。本研究从MEDLINE、Embase与PsycINFO三个数据库中遴选了符合要求的研究文献。研究刻意采用宽泛的纳入标准，以便通过一系列亚组分析，探究可能影响心理危机晤谈有效性的相关特征。整体综合分析结果未发现一致证据表明，心理危机晤谈可有效预防或减轻职业创伤后的创伤后应激障碍症状。多项研究在方法学与文献报告方面存在缺陷，导致部分重要的亚组分析无法开展。该领域亟需开展设计严谨的后续研究，以确保暴露于潜在创伤事件的员工能够获得其所需且应得的有效支持。