Routine Work Environment Stress and PTSD Symptoms in Police Officers

A study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)  examined the relationship between routine work environment stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a sample of police officers (N = 180) who were first assessed during academy training and reassessed 1-year later. In a model that included gender, ethnicity, traumatic exposure prior to entering the academy, current negative life events, and critical incident exposure over the last year, routine work environment stress was most strongly associated with PTSD symptoms. NIH also found that routine work environment stress mediated the relationship between critical incident exposure and PTSD symptoms and between current negative life events and PTSD symptoms. Ensuring that the work environment is functioning optimally protects against the effects of duty-related critical incidents and negative life events outside police service.

Police service is an inherently stressful occupation, which often results in both physical (e.g., cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal problems) and psychological symptoms (increased depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder; e.g.). The very nature of police work includes regular and on-going exposure to confrontation, violence, and potential harm. Exposure to potentially traumatic experiences on a regular basis sets the stage for a series of mental health complications, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Cumulative PTSD can be even more dangerous than PTSD caused from a single traumatic event, largely because cumulative PTSD is more likely to go unnoticed and untreated. When a catastrophic event occurs, such as an officer-involved shooting, most departments have policies and professionals to help an officer address and deal with the aftermath of an event. However, the build-up of events that arise throughout an officer’s career generally do not warrant such specialized attention. As a result, an officer with cumulative PTSD is less likely to receive treatment. (PoliceOne, April 3, 2017)

Why do some cops get PTSD when others don't? That depends on a lot of factors, internal and external to the officer. How well or poorly the officer copes with stress, what else is happening in her life, how many other unprocessed traumas he has, does she have a concurrent condition like depression or substance abuse?  And then there are the external factors, often involving betrayal, slanted media reporting, rejection by the community and lack of support from the officer's agency. (Psychology Today, June 26, 2017)

Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The symptoms of PTSD are essentially similar whether the cause is a single event or long-term exposure to on-going stress, and they can include the following problems:

• Sleeplessness
• Nightmares
• Difficulty managing emotions
• Uncharacteristic temper that possibly leads to abuse
• Substance abuse and addiction
• Flashbacks
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Suicidal thoughts and actions