Utility of Fear Severity and Individual Resilience Scoring as a Surge Capacity, Triage Management Tool during Large-Scale, Bio-event Disasters

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Abstract

Threats of bioterrorism and emerging infectious disease pandemics may result in fear related consequences. Fear based signs and symptoms, if left undetected and untreated, may be extremely debilitating and lead to chronic problems with risk of permanent damage to the brain’s locus coeruleus stress response circuits. The triage management of susceptible, exposed, and infectious victims seeking care must be sensitive and specific enough to identify individuals with excessive levels of fear in order to address the nuances of fear-based symptoms at the initial point of contact. These acute conditions, which include hyper-vigilant fear, are best managed by timely and effective information, rapid evaluation, and possibly medication that uniquely addresses the locus-coeruleus driven noradrenalin overactivation. This article recommends that a fear and resilience (FR) checklist be included as an essential triage tool to identify those most at risk. This checklist has the utility of rapid usage and capacity to respond to limitations brought about by surge capacity requirements. Whereas the utility of such a checklist is evident, predictive validity studies will be required in the future. It is important to note that a unique feature of the FR Checklist is that in addition to identifying individuals who are emotionally, medically, and socially hypo-resilient, it simultaneously identifies individuals who are hyper-resilient who can be asked to volunteer and thus rapidly expand the surge capacity.

Available Versions of this Item

• Utility of Fear Severity and Individual Resilience Scoring as a Surge Capacity, Triage Management Tool during Large-Scale, Bio-event Disasters. (deposited 25 Sep 2006)
  • Utility of Fear Severity and Individual Resilience Scoring as a Surge Capacity, Triage Management Tool during Large-Scale, Bio-event Disasters. (deposited 28 Oct 2006)
    • Utility of Fear Severity and Individual Resilience Scoring as a Surge Capacity, Triage Management Tool during Large-Scale, Bio-event Disasters. (deposited 08 Dec 2006) [Currently Displayed]