But it is – despite what form the group takes Devilly et al (2026). For some the intervention is termed Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and for others Psychological First Aid (PFA).
I’ve just seen J ack who was savagely attacked by a dog. Understandably he had severe PTSD and was referred to routine psychological treatment. He underwent 6 group sessions of 90 minutes with 8-10 participants online. Jack said the group didn’t help at all, no discussion of personal trauma was allowed and he endured weekly education on PTSD via Powerpoint. My thoughts were ‘death by Powerpoint’.
Devilly et al (2026 concluded ‘
‘a major problem is that the current study raises the possibility that PFA deleteriously affects the most highly distressed following traumatic events (similar to the debriefing literature) and should not be routinely administered. In large Western cultures, PFA workshops are currently being offered by the very institutions who are evaluating best practice. This practice may be borne out of a necessity to raise funds in a society that increasingly sees science as just one alternative to advancement and one where funds are routinely withheld from research institutes. However, it raises concern for both the intervention at a general level and the evaluation of it by those providing the training’.
Groups are the answer to a Manager’s prayer, promising massive throughput. There is no doubt that perceived social support is a major predictor of outcome in the treatment of PTSD. But there is no evidence that this can be manufactured by simply putting all trauma victims together. When I was leading the BABCP special interest group, on group work I found an ideological belief in the value of groups. There was scant recognition that the evidence base for group CBT was diagnosis specific and limited [ see Simply Effective Group CBT Scott (2011)]. Low intensity workers were particularly scathing of the need for reliable diagnosis. Nothing it seemed should interfere with ‘getting people together’. Workshops have included ‘Transference and Groups’ . There has been an absence of critical appraisal and I have absented myself from the SIG.
Dr Mike Scott