The professional's psychological response in disaster: implications for practice.

1. Victims typically experience recurring and distressing thoughts about a disaster and attempt to avoid thoughts and behavior associated with the event. As one works through the stressful event, the victim vacillates between intrusion and avoidance, with the magnitude of those oscillations being much stronger at first. 2. Although health-care workers may respond effectively following a disaster, they are not immune to its stresses. They must attend to the victims, regardless of their own needs, taxing even the toughest of the tough. 3. A crisis team should be established to work with the staff before disaster strikes, to be highly visible during a disaster to maintain staff support and emotional stability. They should take an active role in organizing and conducting mandatory debriefing sessions after a disaster to ward off traumatic effects.