A systematic review of the current evidence regarding interventions for anxiety, PTSD, sleepiness and fatigue in the law enforcement workplace

• Published in: Industrial Health Vol. 57; no. 6; pp. 655 - 667
• Main Authors: LEES, Ty, ELLIOTT, Jaymen L, GUNNING, Simon, NEWTON, Phillip J, RAI, Tapan, LAL, Sara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 01-01-2019; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH)
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety - prevention & control; Care and treatment; Demographic aspects; Enforcement; Fatigue; Fatigue - prevention & control; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Illnesses; Intervention (Psychology); Law enforcement; Law enforcement officers; Literature reviews; Male; Management; Mental disorders; Mental health; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Occupational Stress - prevention & control; Police; Post traumatic stress disorder; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Psychological aspects; Psychological stress; Review; Reviews; Sleep and wakefulness; Sleepiness; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - prevention & control; Wellbeing programs; Australia; Wellbeing programs; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Mental health; Fatigue; Anxiety; Management; Police
• ISSN: 0019-8366; 1880-8026
• DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2018-0088

Law enforcement is inherently stressful, and police officers are particularly vulnerable to mental and physical disorders. As such, researchers are currently assessing intervention strategies that may combat or manage these psychological, physical and mental issues. To review most recent information regarding anxiety, PTSD, and sleepiness and fatigue and identify the interventions and treatments proposed to overcome work related stressors and associated mental illnesses inflicting law enforcement officers. The EMBASE, OVID MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases were canvassed for articles investigating anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleepiness, and fatigue. Initial article selections were made based on title, whilst final inclusion was informed by a full critical appraisal with respect to the primary and secondary effects. The systematic search returned 363 records, of which 183 were unique. Following screening, 43 records were included in the final review. The included literature assessed the efficacy of several interventions, and provided a number of recommendations regarding interventions, and policy. Moreover, literature indicates that police officers benefit from interventions targeting work-related stress and potential psychological disorders, if these interventions are continuous. Furthermore, larger controlled studies are required to further elucidate the benefits of psychosocial intervention in law enforcement.