ABSTRACT
Critical incident stress management (CISM) is an integrated, comprehensive, multicomponent crisis intervention program. CISM services cover a broad spectrum, from precrisis preparation, and on-scene support, through post crisis intervention and referral for mental health assessment and treatment. The comprehensive nature of CISM gives it the flexibility to be applied within many settings and with many demographic groups. Mental health professionals or members of a CISM team present practical stress management information. Defusing is a small-group process provided by a CISM team to a homogeneous group within eight to twelve hours of a critical incident when people are most vulnerable to further hurt and intensified distress. The chapter focuses on the critical incident and Post-traumatic stress disorder categories and how group interventions are applied to those circumstances. Critical incident stress is simply a heightened state of arousal that results from exposure to some powerful traumatic event.
