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Treatment of acute stress reaction

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The aims in treatment are fourfold:

  • reduce the emotion by:
    • sympathetic listening
    • short-term anxiolytics when required

  • encouragement to recall the event and to express emotion
    • denial and repression should subside as anxiety is reduced
    • the patient becomes able to recall the distressing events
    • expression of emotion is encouraged

  • improve coping strategies
    • alternatives to maladaptive coping strategies are presented

  • help with any long-term consequences of the stressful reaction such as disability

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