A systematic literature review of early posttraumatic interventions for victims of violent crime

Criminal acts are the most common traumatic events to which the general population is exposed. Developing clinical guidelines for preventing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among victims of violent crime would help to reduce the mental health costs related to these events. The goal of the current article was to systematically review published studies on the efficacy of early interventions for victims of violent crime. Of the twelve selected studies, six evaluated the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), four evaluated psychological debriefing (PD) and two evaluated another type of intervention (i.e., video). Our review found modest and inconsistent effects of active early interventions. CBT appeared to be the most promising early intervention when compared to an assessment condition or a progressive relaxation group, but relatively equivalent to supportive counselling. No proof of efficacy was found for PD compared to other interventions or a control group. A psychoeducational video for rape victims appeared to help a subgroup of victims. The assessment conditions and PD led to similar reductions in posttraumatic symptoms, while CBT had a greater impact. Further research is needed in order to develop early interventions to prevent PTSD, improve quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs.