STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0037.txt
Page: 0037
Total Pages: 48

Subject: STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF        

Unit: VAR. BUMED  

Parent Organization: BUMED       

Box ID: BX303818

Folder Title: USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992                                                  

Document Number:          4

Folder SEQ  #:         13










             chaplains about crisis debriefing-And expectable responses

             to emotional trauma.

                  The initial intervention was guided by several

             principles. First, the psychiatrist did not leave the USNS

             Comfort until he had received an invitation from the

             commanding officer of the USS Iwo Jima. This ensured that

             the psychiatrist arrived as an invited guest, not a suspect

             intruder. Second, a comprehensive picture of the trauma was

             reconstructed before group debriefings were conducted. The

             stance,lll am your consultant, please educate me.$' was well

             received. Third, the recipients of aid were assured that

             help would be practical and reasonable. Brief, concrete

             suggestions that prevented secondary trauma or exhaustion

             built credibility.   Credibility and access were dependent on

             the crew of the Iwo Jima knowing that the SPRINT team was

             promoting a healthy  response to trauma, not searching for

             weakness, sickness,  or scapegoats.

                  The second day  of the intervention began at 0700 with a

             briefing for the commanding officer and department heads.

             This provided an opportunity to explain to the ship's

             leaders the purpose of SPRINT interventions in general, and

             the specific plan for the Iwo Jima intervention.

             Immediately thereafter, all of the ship's officers were

             assembled for a lecture on responses to trauma and the

             likely s@elae of the disaster. At each session the




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Document 48 f:/Week-39/BX303818/USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992/stress and coping with trauma of war in the pers:1104960910243
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-39
Box ID = BX303818
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERS
Document Seq # = 4
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 04-NOV-1996