Psychological Debriefing with Children and Young People Following Traumatic Events

Psychological debriefing is routinely provided as part of a crisis-stage intervention for adults involved in traumatic events. Although common with adults, comparatively few studies have reported the use of psychological debriefing with children and adolescents. The historical origins and process of debriefing are described and the studies undertaken with children reviewed. The limited data available do not indicate that debriefing prevents psychological distress, although it may reduce trauma-related symptomatology. There is a need to undertake methodologically sound trials to determine the effectiveness of psychological debriefing with children and adolescents.