ABSTRACT
It is well recognized that traumatic events can cause significant psychological reactions. However, research published in recent years has suggested that individual responses vary greatly and range from a very limited or absent psychological reaction through to marked distress.(1, 2) Such work has convincingly challenged the notion that most individuals involved in traumatic events experience significant distress initially that gradually reduces over time. This trajectory appears to be one of several that can occur. Four distinct types of response have been described (2, 3): a resilient response in which no psychological symptoms are present shortly after the event or subsequently, a delayed response in which psychological symptoms gradually develop over time, a prolonged response in which psychological symptoms manifest immediately and do not reduce over time, and a recovery response in which individuals experience psychological symptoms initially that then gradually reduce over time.
