Psychological first aid, or PFA, is designed to mitigate the effects of acute stress and trauma and assist those in crisis to cope effectively with adversity. The Johns Hopkins Guide to Psychological First Aid is the first book to thoroughly explain RAPID PFA. RAPID, a unique theoretically grounded and evidence-based PFA method, follows a set of easily understood principles.

Table of Contents

• Preface | How Did We Get Here?
• Acknowledgments
• PART I. PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID | THE SCIENCE
• 1. Psychological First Aid | Definition and History
• Defining Psychological First Aid
• Development of the PFA Concept
• PFA
• PFA Recommended
• Core Competencies of PFA
• Validation of the Johns Hopkins RAPID PFA Model
• Key Point Summary
• References
• 2. Psychological Consequences of Trauma | What You Will Encounter in the Field
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Depression
• Generalized Anxiety
• Panic Disordery
• Substance Use
• Psychophysiological Stress Syndromes
• Key Point Summary
• References
• 3. In the Wake of Disaster | The Large-Scale Context for PFA
• Types of Disasters
• Natural Disasters
• Technological Disasters
• Human-Made Disasters
• War-Related Syndromes: A Special Case of Human-Made Disaster
• Factors That Increase Severity
• Key Point Summary
• References
• PART II. PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID | PRACTICING THE ART
• 4. R—Establishing Rapport and Reflective Listening
• First Things First: The Practice of Presence
• Empathy and Rapport
• The Empathic Cascade: The Bridge from Rapport to Adherence
• Historical Development
• Mechanisms of Action
• Demonstration of the R in RAPID Model
• Key Point Summary
• References
• 5. A—Assessment | Listening to the Story
• Screening
• Appraisal
• Cognitive Indicia
• Emotional Indicia
• Behavioral Indicia
• Spiritual Indicia
• Physiological Indicia
• Demonstration of the A in RAPID Model
• Key Point Summary
• References
• 6. P—Psychological Triage | Prioritization
• Urgency!
• Psychological or Behavioral Instability: The Crisis Triad
• Putting It All Together: The A-B-C Model of Psychological Triage
• Demonstration of the P in RAPID Model
• Key Point Summary
• References
• 7. I—Intervention Tactics to Stabilize and Mitigate Acute Distress
• Explanatory Guidance
• Anticipatory Guidance
• Cognitive Reframing
• Stress Management
• Instillation of a Future Orientation—Hope
• Enlisting the Support of Family and Friends
• Delay Making Any Life-Altering Decisions/Changes
• Faith-Based Intervention in PFA
• When in Doubt …
• Caution!
• Demonstration of the I in RAPID Model
• Key Point Summary
• References
• 8. D—Disposition and Facilitating Access to Continued Care
• Where Do We Go from Here?
• Encouragement
• Resources
• Demonstration of the D in RAPID Model
• Follow-Up and Disposition
• Key Point Summary
• References
• 9. Self-Care | Taking Care of Others Begins (and Ends) with Taking Care of Yourself
• The Need for Self-Care
• Terminology
• Risk Factors
• Self-Care
• Developing a Plan
• Key Point Summary
• References
• Appendix | A Breathing Technique