Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) includes which of the following components?

• A. Introduction, fact, thought, reaction, symptoms, teaching, re-entry
• B. Assessment, treatment, discharge, follow-up
• C. Pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action
• D. Stress, coping, adaptation, recovery

Answer: (A)

Critical Incident Stress Management uses a seven-phase debriefing sequence to help responders process a traumatic event. The components are Introduction, fact, thought, reaction, symptoms, teaching, re-entry. Each phase has a specific role: the introduction sets the tone and purpose; the fact phase collects objective details of what happened; the thought phase explores individual beliefs and interpretations; the reaction phase allows expression of emotional responses; the symptoms phase checks for physical and psychological symptoms; the teaching phase provides information about normal stress responses and coping strategies; and the re-entry phase closes the session and plans for follow-up and return to duties. This structured sequence is characteristic of CISM’s approach to post-incident support, making it the best fit. The other options reflect broader clinical processes, stages of change, or general concepts of stress and recovery, rather than the distinct seven-phase CISM framework.