An interesting article in Scientific American about the change in how people are helped in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event. It used to be the standard practice (and still is, unfortunately, for some psychologists) to engage in a “psychological debriefing” after a traumatic event, in which they described what happened to them and how they felt. The theory was that talking about their experience helped them to “process” their emotions and deal with them better. Unfortunately, studies have show that those who go through this process actually have higher risk of PTSD than those who don’t. What seems to happen is that, by reliving the experience, they are actually imprinting it more strongly in their minds. Some studies have shown that people who can interfere with the solidification of traumatic memories in the immediate aftermath of the event actually have less long-term trauma (although talking it out is good therapy once PTSD actually sets in).
The best immediate therapy? Simply supporting someone, making them feel comfortable and safe.