Which statement about Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is true?

• A. It is an effective replacement for psychotherapy
• B. It can only be used with high-risk adult professional groups like firefighters and paramedics
• C. It is designed to prevent extreme reactions to crises and reduce the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder
• D. It is usually delivered between one and three weeks after a crisis has taken place

Answer: (C)

CISD is a structured debriefing session held soon after a traumatic incident to help people process what happened, normalize their emotional and physiological reactions, and prevent overwhelming distress. The aim is to reduce the likelihood of extreme reactions and lower the risk of developing PTSD by providing immediate psychoeducation, emotional venting, and coping strategies while memories are still fresh. It is not a substitute for psychotherapy, and it’s not limited to high-risk professional groups; it also isn’t typically delivered weeks after the event—it's usually conducted within the first day or two (often within 24–72 hours). In practice, the intent is to intervene early to prevent escalation of distress, though modern guidelines emphasize voluntary participation and supportive, flexible approaches rather than universal, mandatory debriefing.