What are the four phases of Caplan's crisis model?

• A. Threat, escalation, resolution, follow-up
• B. Threat, intervention, climax, resolution
• C. Threat, rapport, strategy, treatment
• D. Threat, escalation, acute crisis, climax

Answer: (D)

Caplan's crisis model outlines how a crisis unfolds in stages that guide intervention. The first phase, Threat, involves a triggering event that challenges coping resources and triggers early signs of distress. Next comes Escalation, where distress intensifies and defenses weaken, increasing vulnerability. The third phase is Acute crisis, the peak disruption where the individual cannot cope without immediate help. The final phase, Climax, is the turning point that leads toward stabilization and a return to equilibrium, often with follow-up to prevent relapse. Other sequences mix in actions like intervention or use terms that describe responses rather than stages, or omit the crucial turning point, which is why this progression best fits Caplan’s model.