Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-experimental studies were eligible for inclusion..
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies involving an operationally defined crisis intervention (one to three emergency mental health contacts), within 1 month of a traumatic incident, were eligible for inclusion. The included studies used single or multiple component individual early psychiatric or crisis interventions. Components included emotional, practical and social support with or without follow-up and referral; emotional support and catharsis with or without education or resources/referral; supportive listening, memory structuring and social support; ‘psychological debriefing’, emotional expression, effective communication, competence and self-reliance; or psychoeducation and motivational enhancement.
Participants included in the review
The included studies identified adult medical patients who had experienced a single traumatic event, such as childbirth or miscarriage for women, a surgical or medical hospital procedure, a motor vehicle accident or other road trauma, or a violent crime, or were a relative of seriously injured or ill patients.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms (defined as intrusive thoughts and re-experiencing symptoms). The included studies used a variety of measurement tools (details were reported).
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.