Storytelling as Therapy: An Approach to Psychological Care for Gunshot Victims in the Acute Trauma Setting

Background / Purpose: Psychological care for gunshot victims (GSVs) in acute care settings is little studied and often limited. While GSVs may receive a referral for psychiatric services, many are not screened or given preventive care for acute psychological distress. Delays in treating acute psychological trauma may lead to increased risk for chronic mental health issues, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Peer-to-peer storytelling is a validated approach for improving outcomes for diverse populations who face cultural barriers to care.  We propose to design a storytelling intervention that will i) initiate meaningful therapy for acute psychological trauma in GSVs and ii) identify the social determinants of health for gun violence in Miami, Florida.

Methods: To develop an evidenced-based intervention, a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with Clinical Psychologists and Trauma Surgeons at the Ryder Trauma Center were performed. An iterative process between clinicians and MD/MPH students occurred to develop this storytelling intervention. 

Results / Outcomes: Peer-to-peer storytelling may be a safe and effective psychological intervention for GSVs in the acute traumatic setting. We propose using audio stories from previous GSVs to be delivered to new victims in the acute setting, These stories should promote a sense of safety, calm, self- and community efficacy, connectedness, and hope. We will validate it with pre- and post- stress and locus-of-control testing in the acute setting and during surgical follow up.

Conclusions: Storytelling is a novel approach to address the sequelae of firearm-related violence in an acute trauma setting, which remains a significant nationwide public health issue.