Critical incident stress debriefing and law enforcement: An evaluative review

Emergency and disaster mental health may have century-old foundations, but its development as a field is far from complete (Everly, 1999). One of the more popular tactical interventions within the field is the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) model of small-group crisis intervention, developed by Jeffery T. Mitchell (sometimes referred to as the "Mitchell Model"). CISD is but one intervention that falls within the strategic array of crisis interventions collectively referred to as Critical Incident Stress Management (Everly & Mitchell, 1999; Sheehan, Everly, & Langlieb, 2004). With the advent of CISD came a burgeoning number of case studies, personal accounts, and clinical research reports all focused on the efficacy of CISD. The purpose of this paper is to examine and critique the literature specifically addressing the Mitchell Model of CISD with law enforcement. Suggestions for directions that future research on CISD with police officers might take are discussed.