Disaster Mental Health Theory and Practice

by Halpern, James; Tramontin, Mary

• ISBN13: 9780534534714
• ISBN10: 0534534716
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-06-27
• Publisher: Amazon.Com

Summary

Prepare for disaster with DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH: THEORY AND PRACTICE! This tool in disaster preparedness and planning presents a theoretical integration and context for what disaster mental health is and what it is not. A practical discussion of a range of mental health interventions appropriate in the wake of a disaster helps you effectively prepare to respond to a disaster of any kind.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
PART 1 DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH THEORY
Introduction	1	(16)
The Purpose of This Book	2	(1)
Defining Disaster	2	(3)
Disasters and Mental Health	5	(1)
Describing Those Impacted	6	(1)
Who Is Most at Risk From Disasters?	6	(2)
The Mission of Disaster Mental Health	8	(2)
Practice Differences in Disaster Mental Health	10	(1)
So, What Is It That We Do?	11	(1)
Characteristics of a Disaster Mental Health Worker	12	(1)
Rewards of Disaster Work	13	(1)
The Structure of This Book: Theory and Practice	14	(3)
References	15	(2)
The Characteristics of Disaster	17	(29)
No Two Disasters Are Alike	18	(1)
Stages of Disaster	19	(1)
Scope, Intensity, and Duration	20	(2)
Natural Versus Human-Caused Disaster	22	(1)
Natural Disasters	23	(5)
Natural Disasters With and Without Warning	28	(1)
How Natural Are Natural Disasters?	29	(1)
Human-Caused Disasters	30	(3)
Toxic Waste and Nuclear Accidents	33	(1)
Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction	34	(4)
Hoaxes, Rumors, and Panics	38	(2)
The Importance of Accurate Information	40	(6)
References	42	(4)
A History of Disaster Mental Health	46	(34)
Converging Trends in the Development of Disaster Mental Health	47	(1)
The Concept of Trauma	48	(1)
Railway Spine, Hysteria, and Dissociation	49	(2)
Freudian Concepts of Trauma	51	(1)
Trauma and War	52	(5)
The Legitimization of Trauma	57	(1)
The Diagnostic Nomenclature and Trauma	58	(1)
The Link Between Trauma and Disasters	59	(2)
Stress and Trauma	61	(1)
Wellness and Humanistic Psychology	62	(1)
Crisis Intervention in the Community	63	(1)
The Role of Emergency Management	64	(2)
Humanitarian Relief Groups	66	(1)
The American Red Cross and Disaster Mental Health	67	(2)
Supporting First Responders	69	(2)
Disaster Mental Health Today	71	(9)
References	76	(4)
Reactions and Risk Factors	80	(31)
Physiological Responses to Disaster	81	(2)
Normative Reactions to Disaster Exposure	83	(2)
Stages of Disaster Reactions	85	(1)
Before and During Impact	85	(1)
After Disaster: Emotional Changes Over Time	86	(2)
Proximity to Impact	88	(1)
The Impact of Loss and Grief	89	(2)
Specific Issues in Disaster Loss	91	(2)
Characteristics of Bereavement	93	(2)
A Double Blow: Bereaved Survivors	95	(1)
Loss, Guilt, and Shame	95	(2)
Collective Responses to Disaster	97	(2)
Individual Risk and Resilience	99	(5)
When Resilience Fails	104	(1)
Existential Reactions to Disaster	105	(1)
Rebuilding the Self After Disaster	106	(5)
References	107	(4)
Extreme Reactions	111	(26)
Trauma Studies and Disaster Mental Health	111	(3)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder	114	(1)
Diagnosing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder	115	(1)
Physical Underpinnings of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder	116	(3)
Core and Related PTSD Symptoms	119	(3)
Memory and Trauma	122	(1)
Models of Memory and Trauma	123	(1)
Traumatic Memory Failures: Amnesia and Dissociation	124	(1)
Dissociation and Acute Stress Disorder	125	(2)
Complicated Grief	127	(1)
Diagnosing Complicated Grief	128	(1)
Complicated Grief and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Comparison	129	(1)
Complicated Grief Risk Factors	130	(1)
Comorbid Disorders Following Disaster Exposure	131	(2)
A Final Word: Extreme Reactions and the Disaster Mental Health Practitioner	133	(4)
References	134	(3)
Vulnerable Populations	137	(34)
Defining Vulnerability	138	(1)
Traumatic Stress and Children and Adolescents	138	(2)
Diagnosing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Other Disorders in Children	140	(1)
Expression of Symptoms: A Developmental Perspective	141	(1)
Disaster Trauma and Development	142	(6)
Trauma in the Formative Years	148	(1)
Which Children Are Most at Risk?	149	(2)
Parental Psychology and the Recovery Environment	151	(1)
Key Principles in Helping Children	152	(1)
The Elderly in Disasters	153	(1)
Who Are the Elderly?	153	(1)
Logistical Issues Faced by the Elderly	154	(1)
Relocation Trauma	155	(1)
Psychological Issues Among the Elderly	156	(1)
Strengths of Older Disaster Survivors	157	(4)
Key Principles in Helping the Elderly	161	(2)
People With Serious Mental Illness	163	(2)
People With Physical Disabilities	165	(1)
Conclusions About Vulnerable Populations	166	(5)
References	166	(5)
PART 2 DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE
The Challenges of Counseling in Chaos	171	(28)
Is Disaster Mental Health Right for You Now?	172	(1)
Training to Respond	173	(2)
Training Drills	175	(2)
Responding to Disasters	177	(1)
Small or Local Disasters	177	(2)
Large or National Disasters	179	(1)
On-Scene Hierarchies	179	(2)
Spiritual Care in Disaster Response	181	(2)
Other Organizations Active in Disaster	183	(1)
Government Agencies	183	(1)
Volunteer Organizations	184	(3)
Settings for Disaster Mental Health Work	187	(1)
General Settings	188	(2)
Red Cross-Specific Response Settings	190	(2)
Some Practical Considerations	192	(1)
Disasters' Impact on Counselors	193	(1)
Self-Care During the Event	194	(2)
Transitioning Home From a Disaster Assignment	196	(1)
Afterthoughts	197	(2)
References	197	(2)
Psychological First Aid	199	(25)
A Visible Supportive Presence	199	(1)
Defining Psychological First Aid	200	(2)
History and Rationale	202	(1)
Theoretical Roots: Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow	202	(1)
Goals and Components of Psychological First Aid	203	(1)
Psychological First Aid Attitudes	204	(6)
Psychological First Aid Actions	210	(7)
A Case Study: Psychological First Aid on the Phone	217	(1)
Who Can Provide Psychological First Aid?	218	(1)
Is Psychological First Aid Effective?	219	(5)
References	221	(3)
Early Interventions Beyond Psychological First Aid	224	(31)
Assessment	224	(1)
Triage	225	(1)
Screening	226	(4)
Psychoeducation	230	(2)
Psychoeducation on Normal Reactions to Stress	232	(1)
Providing Stress Management Skills	233	(1)
Providing Coping Skills Training	234	(1)
Psychoeducation on Loss and Grief	235	(1)
Educating Parents to Help Children	236	(1)
Helping Survivors Cope With the Media	236	(3)
Is Psychoeducation Effective?	239	(2)
Monitoring and Controlling Rumor	241	(2)
Conflict Mediation and Resolution	243	(1)
Preventing Conflict	244	(1)
Working With and Mediating Conflict	244	(1)
Correcting Distorted Self-Cognitions	245	(3)
Making Referrals for Follow-Up Treatment	248	(2)
Some Cautions About Early Intervention	250	(5)
References	251	(4)
Debriefing and the Impact of Disaster Trauma on First Responders	255	(25)
Background of the Debriefing Debate	255	(1)
A History of Debriefing	256	(2)
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. The ``Mitchell Model''	258	(1)
Components of Critical Incident Stress Management	259	(2)
Components of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing	261	(1)
Other Psychological Debriefing Models	262	(1)
Debriefing's Theoretical Context	263	(1)
Crisis Intervention	263	(1)
Psychoeducation	264	(1)
Critical Questions About Debriefing	265	(2)
Possible Drawbacks, Possible Benefits	267	(2)
First Responders and Disaster Trauma	269	(2)
Emergency Workers as Public Figures	271	(1)
Mourning in Public	272	(1)
Critical Incident Stress Management and First Responders	273	(3)
Disasters and Debriefing	276	(4)
References	277	(3)
Long-Term Treatment: Continuity of Care	280	(32)
Long-Term Needs of the Traumatized Patient	281	(4)
Psychodynamic Approaches	285	(3)
Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches	288	(7)
Family Systems Approaches	295	(2)
Family Therapy and Disaster	297	(2)
Assisting a Family With Loss	299	(1)
Group Therapy Approaches	300	(2)
Pharmacotherapy	302	(1)
Evidence-Based Practice for Long-Term Treatment of Disaster Survivors	303	(2)
The Impact on the Therapist and the Need for Self-Care	305	(7)
References	307	(5)
New Directions in Disaster Mental Health	312	(25)
Preparing Communities	313	(2)
Preparing Providers	315	(1)
Preparing the Public	316	(2)
New Challenges: Preparing an International Response	318	(2)
Responding When the Disaster Is Ongoing	320	(3)
Backlash Against Disaster Mental Health Services	323	(2)
Ethics	325	(1)
Competence	326	(2)
Competence Working With Human Differences	328	(1)
Personal Problems and Conflicts	328	(1)
Informed Consent	329	(1)
Maintaining Confidentiality and Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality	330	(1)
Multiple Relationships	331	(1)
Advocacy	331	(1)
Research and Informed Practice	332	(1)
A Final Note on New Directions	333	(4)
References	334	(3)
Appendix A A Sample Common Reactions Document	337	(3)
Appendix B Internet Resources for Helping Children Cope With Disaster	340	(2)
Appendix C Treatment Goals for a Cognitive--Behavioral Group Therapy for Adults and Children Following an Air Disaster	342	(4)
Appendix D Disaster Mental Health--Relevant Articles From the American Psychological Association Ethics Code	346	(3)
Appendix E Resource List for Disaster Mental Health Helpers	349	(8)
Index	357