title: Early response to psychological trauma--what GPs can do.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a high prevalence of psychological trauma exposure among primary care patients. General practitioners are well placed to provide appropriate support for patients coping with trauma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article outlines an evidence-based early response to psychological trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological first aid is the preferred approach in providing early assistance to patients who have experienced a traumatic event. General practitioners can be guided by five empirically derived principles in their early response: promoting a sense of safety, calming, self efficacy, connectedness and hope. Structured psychological interventions, including psychological debriefing, are not routinely recommended in the first few weeks following trauma exposure. General practitioner self care is an important aspect of providing post-trauma patient care.
authors.affiliation: BA (Hons), MA (Clin Psych), PhD, is Director Education and Training, Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forbes
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D058006:General Practice; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D010819:Physician's Role; D012449:Safety; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*