Psychological support for disaster victims: An evidence-based care model

A search for meta analyses and systematic reviews on psychological support to disaster victims was carried out to devise a local support model. Based on 36 meta analyses and systematic reviews, the support should be carried out in five echelon levels: diffusion, social support, general medical care, general psychiatric care and psychiatric care carried out by experts. Only victims with well-established formal psychiatric disorders should receive psychotherapy or psychotropic medication. The rest should only receive psychological first aid. According to the best evidence available, a model for psychological care is proposed. (Rev Med Chile 2010; 138: 143-151).