Trauma risk management

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Trauma risk management (TRiM) is a method of secondary PTSD (and other traumatic stress related mental health disorders) prevention. The TRiM process enables non-healthcare staff to monitor and manage colleagues. TRiM training provides practitioners with a background understanding of psychological trauma and its effects. [1]

TRiM is a trauma-focused peer support system [2] and the way it works is wholly compliant with the PTSD management guidelines produced by the National Institute for Health and Care and Excellence. [3]

Trauma risk management Practitioners are trained to carry out an interview which identifies a number of risk factors which, when present, increase the likelihood that an individual may suffer poor longer term mental health as a result of a traumatic event. The initial TRiM interview takes place with an individual, 72 hours after a traumatic incident. People who score highly on this initial interview are provided with extra support by colleagues, and where appropriate, line managers. A follow-up TRiM interview is then carried out approximately one month later to assess how well people have come to terms with the traumatic event at that point. Individuals who are found to have persistent difficulties at this point are encouraged and assisted to seek a professional assessment in order to access any specific treatment they require. [1]

TRiM originated within the UK military after previously-used reactive single session models of post incident intervention, such as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, were subject to scientific scrutiny and shown to not just lack effectiveness but also have the potential to do harm. [4] Professor Neil Greenberg was one of the team at the forefront of developing peer-led traumatic stress support packages, now known as TRiM. He is an academic psychiatrist based at King's College London UK and is a consultant occupational and forensic psychiatrist.

Although it was first developed in the UK military, trauma risk management is now used by a range of public and commercial organisations. [5] This includes charities, emergency services, security firms, risk management organisations, UK Government departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, [6] the oil and gas industry, transport organisations and media companies including the BBC. [7]

Evidence and research

A large number of research papers have been published about the use of TRiM and its effectiveness and acceptance. This includes research about the use of TRiM by Cumbria Constabulary, following the Cumbria shootings in 2010. This research [8] showed that the officers and staff who received a TRiM response fared better than their colleagues who did not and were less likely to be absent from work than colleagues who did not receive a TRiM intervention.

Research has shown that the use of TRiM may assist in increasing the psychological resilience of military personnel through the facilitation of social support. [9]

A review of TRiM research was published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine in April 2015 [10] and since that time a further 2017 paper has shown that TRiM improves help-seeking after traumatic incidents. [11]

Related Research Articles

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that develops from experiencing a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats on a person's life or well-being. Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in the way a person thinks and feels, and an increase in the fight-or-flight response. These symptoms last for more than a month after the event and can include triggers such as misophonia. Young children are less likely to show distress, but instead may express their memories through play. A person with PTSD is at a higher risk of suicide and intentional self-harm.

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References

  1. 1 2 Greenberg, Neil; Brooks, Samantha; Dunn, Rebecca (2015-04-22). "Latest developments in post-traumatic stress disorder: diagnosis and treatment: Table 1". British Medical Bulletin. 114 (1). Oxford University Press (OUP): 147–155. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldv014. ISSN   0007-1420.
  2. ↑ Creamer, Mark C.; Varker, Tracey; Bisson, Jonathan; Darte, Kathy; Greenberg, Neil; Lau, Winnie; Moreton, Gill; O'Donnell, Meaghan; Richardson, Don; Ruzek, Joe; Watson, Patricia; Forbes, David (2012). "Guidelines for peer support in high‐risk organizations: An international consensus study using the delphi method". Journal of Traumatic Stress. 25 (2). Wiley: 134–141. doi:10.1002/jts.21685. ISSN   0894-9867.
  3. ↑ "Post-traumatic stress disorder". NICE. 2018-12-05. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  4. ↑ Rose, S.; Bisson, J.; Churchill, R.; Wessely, S. (2001). "Psychological debriefing for preventing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (3): CD000560. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000560. ISSN   1469-493X. PMID   11686967.
  5. ↑ "March on Stress >> Clients". Archived from the original on 2015-12-05. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  6. ↑ "Trauma Risk Management - TRiM" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "Psychological Trauma Support & Trauma Risk Management (TRiM)". Archived from the original on 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  8. ↑ Hunt, E.; Jones, N.; Hastings, V.; Greenberg, N. (2013-10-30). "TRiM: an organizational response to traumatic events in Cumbria Constabulary". Occupational Medicine. 63 (8). Oxford University Press (OUP): 549–555. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqt113. ISSN   0962-7480.
  9. ↑ Frappell-Cooke, W.; Gulina, M.; Green, K.; Hacker Hughes, J.; Greenberg, N. (2010-10-01). "Does trauma risk management reduce psychological distress in deployed troops?". Occupational Medicine. 60 (8). Oxford University Press (OUP): 645–650. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqq149. ISSN   0962-7480.
  10. ↑ Whybrow, D.; Jones, N.; Greenberg, N. (2015-04-16). "Promoting organizational well-being: a comprehensive review of Trauma Risk Management: Table 1". Occupational Medicine. 65 (4). Oxford University Press (OUP): 331–336. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqv024. ISSN   0962-7480.
  11. ↑ Jones, Norman; Burdett, Howard; Green, Kevin; Greenberg, Neil (2017). "Trauma Risk Management (TRiM): Promoting Help Seeking for Mental Health Problems Among Combat-Exposed U.K. Military Personnel". Psychiatry. 80 (3): 236–251. doi:10.1080/00332747.2017.1286894. ISSN   1943-281X. PMID   29087252. S2CID   22368392.
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