Interventions to reduce psychosocial disturbance following humanitarian relief efforts involving natural disasters: an integrative review.

Because of the increased level of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reported post disaster work, it is imperative that governmental and non-governmental agencies consider predisaster training of volunteers in not only clinical skills, but also communication and team building. When these concepts are combined with ongoing support post disaster, a decrease in the frequency and severity of PTSD has been reported. A review of 12 studies examined responses of relief workers to various disaster situations.