title: Cognitive-behavioral psychology: implications for disaster and terrorism response.
abstract: Given the personal and societal costs associated with acute impairment and enduring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the mental health response to disasters is an integral component of disaster response planning. The purpose of this paper is to explore the compatibility between cognitive-behavioral psychology and the disaster mental health model, and explicate how cognitive-behavioral perspectives and intervention methods can enhance the effectiveness of disaster mental health services. It is argued that cognitive-behavioral methods, if matched to the contexts of the disaster and the needs of individuals, will improve efforts to prevent the development of PTSD and other trauma-related problems in survivors of disaster or terrorist events. First, the similarities between models of care underlying both disaster mental health services and cognitive-behavioral therapies are described. Second, examples of prior cognitive-behavioral therapy-informed work with persons exposed to disaster and terrorism are provided, potential cognitive-behavioral therapy applications to disaster and terrorism are explored, and implications of cognitive-behavioral therapy for common challenges in disaster mental health is discussed. Finally, steps that can be taken to integrate cognitive-behavioral therapy into disaster mental health are outlined. The aim is to prompt disaster mental health agencies and workers to consider using cognitive-behavioral therapy to improve services and training, and to motivate cognitive-behavioral researchers and practitioners to develop and support disaster mental health response.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. josef.ruzek@va.gov
authors.forename: Josefi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruzek
authors.forename: Robyn D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Walser
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Naugle
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Litz
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mennin
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Polusny
authors.forename: Dianna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ronell
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yehuda
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Scotti
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008603:Mental Health; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012066:Relief Work; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000517:prevention & control; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*