Crisis Intervention

Question 1

What is a crisis?

Answer 1

• A perception of a situation as intolerable difficulty that exceeds current resources and coping mechanisms
• A period of psychological disequilibrium that results from experiencing a significant traumatic event that cannot be remedied by the use of available coping strategies
• NOT the actual event itself, but how you react
• Subjective response to a stressful life experience that compromises an individuals stability and ability to cope or function

Question 2

What are the five different types of crises?

Answer 2

1) External
2) Internal
3) Maturational
4) Adventitious
5) Psychiatric emergencies

Question 3

Describe external crises:

Answer 3

Result from actual events/circumstances in the environment (ex. loss of a loved one, job, etc.)

Question 4

Describe internal crises:

Answer 4

Subjectively perceived and experienced; within the person, not obvious to other people (ex. feeling abandoned, fear, spiritual distress)

Question 5

Describe maturational crises:

Answer 5

Occur during the course of normal growth and development (ex. figuring out who you are as a person in adolescence, adapting to marriage/parenthood, etc.)

Question 6

Describe adventitious crises:

Answer 6

Occur as a result of extraordinary events, something not expected in day-to-day life that is very traumatic (ex. crime of violence, war, sexual abuse, natural disasters)

Question 7

Describe psychiatric emergencies:

Answer 7

Sudden or serious psychological disturbance (ex. acute psychotic episode, drug induced psychosis, panic disorder)

Question 8

What are the four characteristics of crisis?

Answer 8

1) Involve spcific, unexpected and non-routine events
2) Creates uncertainty
3) Creates perceptions of threat
4) Processes of transformation during which the old system can no longer be maintained and the need for change is identified

Question 9

What are the five components of crisis?

Answer 9

1) A hazardous or traumatic event
2) Vulnerable state
3) Precipitating factor (ex. someone asking a question or seeing someone that sets you off)
4) Active crisis state (ex. physical signs of stress like anxiety, high BP, etc.)
5) Resolution of the crisis

Question 10

What are the four phases of a crisis?

Answer 10

1) Individual is exposed to a stressor
2) Previous coping and problem-solving strategies fail to relieve stressor
3) Resources from in and outside of the individual are mobilized to resolve the problem and alleviate the discomfort caused by the stressor
4) Absence of crisis resolution leads to major disorganization

Question 11

What risk factors may limit an individuals ability to cope during stressful life events or situations, putting them at increased risk for crises?

Answer 11

• Lack of social support or poor social supports
• Mental illness (affects ability to think rationally during stressful situations)
• Poor sleep patterns
• Pain
• Chronic illnesses
• Disabilities/changes to physical function
• Nutrition
• Concurrent change
• Life experience (lack there of)
• Unresolved stress
• Substance abuse
• Limited access to health care services
• Concurrent stressors **

Question 12

What is crisis response affected by?

Answer 12

• Features of the crisis (predictability; duration; intensity; control)
• Features of the individual (risk factors; self-concept; failure to learn from experience; secondary gain; therapist-patient boundary problems; socio-cultural considerations)

Question 13

How do intervene during crisis?

Answer 13

• Short-term therapy that uses action-oriented interventions to solve the immediate problems and distress associated with a crisis.
• Nurses can engage in crisis intervention to help people regain their previous level of functioning or improve it in some cases.
• Goals are to alleviate acute distress, restore independent functioning, and prevent psychological trauma.
• Should happen as soon as possible after the crisis event or response.

Question 14

What are the five principles of crisis intervention?

Answer 14

1) Intervene immediately
2) Stabilize the victims by restoring order/routine
3) Facilitate understanding of the event by gathering facts, listening and teaching
4) Focus on problem-solving
5) Encourage self-reliance

Question 15

What are the five steps of crisis intervention?

Answer 15

1) Assessment of the individual and problem
2) Planning of therapeutic interventions
3) Intervention
4) Resolution of the crisis
5) Anticipatory planning