Effect of Small Group Crisis Intervention (Defusing) on Negative Affect and Agreeableness to Seeking Mental Health Services

Abstract

This investigation analyzed the impacts of traumatic incidents and the effects of a small group intervention on full-time fire/rescue professionals. Data were collected on three cohorts of participants: trauma-exposed participants who requested a small group intervention (N 1⁄4 255), nontrauma-exposed participants (N 1⁄4 147), and trauma-exposed participants who received no intervention and were assessed 3 days after a trauma (N 1⁄4 34). The current mood states of all participants were measured with the Multiple Adjective Affect Check List, Revised. The small group intervention significantly lowered the composite negative affect score, whether compared to the preintervention score or the trauma-exposed group who were 3 days distant from the trauma but had received no intervention. Postintervention fire/rescue professionals agreed they were more likely to seek out future mental health services (two and half times) and future small group interventions (two times). [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 6:308–315 (2006)]