Acute Stress Disorder What It Is and How to Treat It

Drawing on extensive research and clinical experience, leading authority Richard A. Bryant explores what works--and what doesn't work--in managing acute traumatic stress. He reviews the current state of the science on acute stress disorder (ASD) and presents diagnostic guidelines based on DSM-5. In a straightforward, highly readable style, Bryant shares rich insights into how to provide effective, compassionate care to specific populations, including those with mild traumatic brain injury, military personnel and first responders, and children. Evidence-based intervention procedures are described. Reproducible assessment tools and handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

Richard A. Bryant, MPsych, PhD, FAPS, is Scientia Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, and Director of the Traumatic Stress Clinic. He has won numerous research awards, including the Robert S. Laufer, PhD, Memorial Award from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Distinguished Contribution to Psychological Science Award from the Australian Psychological Society, and the Founders Medal from the Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research (now the Society for Mental Health Research). His research has focused on understanding and treating acute stress disorder, and he has conducted many experimental, longitudinal, and intervention studies of acute traumatic stress. Dr. Bryant has served on both the DSM-5 and ICD-11 work groups that have written traumatic stress diagnostic guidelines. He has published over 420 peer-reviewed journal articles and 60 book chapters.

I. Theoretical and Empirical Issues
1. Lessons from the Past
2. Diagnosis of Acute Stress Disorder 
3. Acute Stress Disorder in DSM-5
4. Do Initial Reactions Predict Long-Term Reactions?
5. Biology of Acute Stress Reactions
6. Cognitive Features of Acute Stress Reactions
II. Assessment
7. Assessing Acute Stress Reactions
III. Treatment
8. What about Psychological Debriefing?
9. An Overview of Treatment for Acute Stress Disorder
10. How to Treat Acute Stress Disorder
11. Challenges to Treating Acute Stress Disorder
IV. Special Considerations
12. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
13. Working with Military Personnel and First Responders
14. Acute Stress Disorder in Children
15. Acute Stress Disorder and the Law
16. Concluding Comments
V. Appendices
Acute Stress Disorder Structured Interview–5
Acute Stress Disorder Scale–5
Prolonged Exposure Monitoring Form
Thought Record Form
Trauma Hierarchy Form
In Vivo Exposure Form