Preparation for Psychological Aspects of Nuclear Disaster.

Disaster has phases. It is preceded by warning, ushered in by impact, and followed first by recoil and then by a recovery phase. In a disaster there are six special needs of psychological importance: mothering, group formation, special leadership, traffic control, a case registry, and communication of adequate information. Disaster studies suggest three important psychological first-aid measures: (1) keep people in family groups, (2) encourage "talking out" and (3) provide useful tasks. Such measures are more effective if the helper attitude is adopted. The model for the helper attitude is the good nurse.