The Effects of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) on Emergency Medical Services Personnel Following the Los Angeles Civil Disturbance

This study examined the effects of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) upon technicians who provided emergency medical services in South Central Los Angeles during the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Disturbance. The relationships between exposure, debriefing and symptoms of stress were identified and examined. The Frederick Reaction Index-Adult (FRI-A) was used to measure the presence of symptoms characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder. EMTs who had the opportunity to participate in Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (n = 42) following the incident reported fewer symptoms and scored significantly lower on the FRI-A than those not participating in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (n = 23).