What is the purpose of critical incident stress management (CISM)?

• A. Address acute stress and potentially decrease the likelihood of PTSD after an incident
• B. Diagnose PTSD
• C. Replace therapy
• D. Treat physical injuries

Answer: (A)

CISM focuses on the immediate emotional and psychological responses after a traumatic event. It provides education about normal stress reactions, offers support, and helps individuals process what happened in the hours to days after the incident. The goal is to reduce acute distress and intervene early to lower the chance that this distress becomes a longer-term problem like PTSD. It is not used to diagnose PTSD, nor to replace ongoing therapy or counseling, and it does not treat physical injuries. Trained responders use structured discussions and follow-up to guide coping and connect people with additional help if needed.