anxiety disorders, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder

A police officer's job is extremely difficult, and the potential for PTSD is great. I don't have information about the number of police in the United States who get PTSD, but whatever the number is, I'm surprised it isn't higher.

Supposedly, a police officer should be trained to withstand the overwhelming types of trauma that may result in the onset of severe PTSD. Realistically, though, one has to look at a police force and not assume that all the officers on the force are identical to the one officer who lives in one's neighborhood. In Philadelphia, the force consists of more than 8,000 people who come from all walks of life with different histories and different levels of experience. They come from all classes and bring all of their prejudices, beliefs, and attitudes with them to the job, and they don't understand the mores and family structures of people who are different from themselves and their loved ones. Over the years, they learn a great deal about the communities where they work, but it takes effort and a will to change attitudes and beliefs.

By definition, the development of PTSD requires a trauma that so overwhelms the ego that the person cannot use the usual coping mechanisms effectively. When this happens and they fail to function at maximal efficiency and effectiveness, the consequences can be fatal. In the case of police officers, we have to be very sure that the individual officer is ready to go back to work. The treatment of PTSD is not yet well defined and, therefore, a psychiatrist must be involved so that psychotherapy can be utilized and medications can be prescribed.

© 2006 Elsevier Inc.. All rights reserved.

posted Wednesday, 24 May 2006
tags: post traumatic stress disorder  ptsd