EARLY INTERVENTION AND RETURN-TO-WORK PROCEDURES FOR A NAVY CREW AFTER SHIPWRECK— USING MODIFIED PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO REESTABLISH OPERATIONAL CAPACITY

Abstract

The present case study describes principles for immediate personnel care and return-to-work procedures for large groups of operational personnel following critical incidents as practiced in the Royal Norwegian Navy. Practice is exemplified in a rendering of the psychosocial intervention for the crew of frigate His Norwegian Majesty’s Ship Helge Ingstad following a maritime collision leading to shipwreck and total loss of vessel. Interventions included psychological first aid, group sessions, and return to operational duty by way of exposure training; a group-based approach to modified prolonged exposure, led by the affected crew leadership themselves, was used. Exposure training started 6 days after the accident aboard a similar frigate, included all 137 crew members and was done in a stepwise manner leading back to full operational duty. Screening results at 3 weeks postincident showed high satisfaction with procedures and received care, and high belief among crew members in personal ability to master future critical incidents, indicating acceptability and compliance with intervention and reestablished professional self-efficacy, respectively. Several sources presented indicate positive intervention outcomes. Principles for personnel care and returnto-work procedures are transferable to other incidents, organizations, and occupations. Research on personnel care and return-to-work procedures is needed, because several dimensions of intervention lack direct empirical support.