Disaster mental health is a growing field of practice designed to help victims and relief workers learn to effectively cope with the extreme stresses they will face in the aftermath of a disaster. The goal of disaster mental health is to prevent the development of long-term, negative psychological consequences, such as PTSD. This book assists clinicians and traumatologists in "making the bridge" between their clinical knowledge and skills and the unique, complex, chaotic, and highly political field of disaster. It combines information from a vast reservoir of prior research and literature with the authors' practical and pragmatic experience in providing disaster mental health services in a wide variety of disasters.

Over 100 researchers from 16 countries contribute to the first comprehensive handbook on post-traumatic stress disorder. Eight major sections present information on assessment, measurement, and research protocols for trauma related to war veterans, victims of torture, children, and the aged. Clinicians and researchers will find it an indispensible reference, touching on such disciplines and psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, sociology, neurophysiology, and political science.

"Psychological first aid (PFA) is designed to mitigate the effects of acute stress and trauma and assist those in crisis to cope effectively with adversity. The second edition of this essential guide describes the principles and practices underpinning the evidence-informed and evidence-based Johns Hopkins RAPID-PFA model in an easy-to-follow, prescriptive, and practical manner"--

This book presents a decade of advances in the psychological, biological and social responses to disasters, helping medics and leaders prepare and react.