Abstract

MOYANO, Manuel  and  TRUJILLO, Humberto Manuel. Principles of biopsychosocial intervention in the ebola crisis. Escritos de Psicología [online]. 2016, vol.9, n.2, pp.42-46. ISSN 1989-3809.  https://dx.doi.org/10.5231/psy.writ.2016.0605.

In August 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ebola virus disease (EVD) as a public health emergency of international concern. Although this epidemic was already a reality in different African countries, in October of the same year, special attention was paid to the management and communication of the first case of contagion in Europe; specifically, in Spain. This paper provides a proposal of seven principles of biopsychosocial intervention which should be conceived as a useful framework from a point of view of the management of public health and medical emergencies. They are as follow: (1) real and perceived risk are not equivalent; (2) containment, judgment and prudence in communication; (3) the whole is more than the sum of its parts; (4) divergent thinking to anticipate; (5) technical (and psychological) training for professionals; (6) psychological assistance to professionals and victims; and, finally, (7) architecture of a resilient society.

Keywords : biopsychosocial intervention; ebola; emergency; risk; public health.

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