Andrews Katie L, Jamshidi Laleh, Shields Robyn E, Nisbet Jolan, Carleton R Nicholas
Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina.
Psychol Trauma. 2024 Jul 8. doi: 10.1037/tra0001725.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are among the public safety sectors reporting the highest exposures to diverse potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs), which contribute to the risk of developing mental health disorders. Current increases in prevalence of mental health disorders among RCMP are substantial and warrant updated prevalence estimates of PPTE exposures. The objective of the present study was to provide updated estimates of lifetime PPTE exposures among RCMP and assess for associations with mental disorders and sociodemographic variables.
Participants ( = 1,348) completed a survey assessing self-reported sociodemographic information, PPTE exposures as measured by the Life Events Checklist for the (5th ed.) Extended, and mental health disorder symptoms.
Participants reported exposure to more PPTE types (∼13) than previous samples of RCMP (∼11) and public safety personnel (PSP) (∼11). Prevalence for all the PPTE types was statistically significantly higher for the current sample than previously reported samples of PSP and RCMP, and higher than the Canadian general population. Participants reported highest exposures through any modality (i.e., directly or indirectly) to sudden violent death (98.3%), physical assault (97.9%), serious transport accident (97.0%), sudden accidental death (96.7%), and assault with a weapon (93.7%). Most PPTEs were statistically significantly associated with screening positive for posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, but not alcohol use disorder.
Increased PPTE exposures reported by current participants compared to a previous sample of RCMP, coupled with the observed associations between PPTE exposures and mental health disorders, highlights the need for further resources and support for RCMP to mitigate and manage the impact of PPTEs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
加拿大皇家骑警（RCMP）属于公共安全部门，报告显示其遭受各种潜在心理创伤事件（PPTEs）的暴露程度最高，这些事件会增加患心理健康障碍的风险。目前，皇家骑警中心理健康障碍的患病率大幅上升，因此有必要更新PPTE暴露的患病率估计值。本研究的目的是提供皇家骑警一生中PPTE暴露的最新估计值，并评估其与精神障碍和社会人口统计学变量之间的关联。
参与者（n = 1348）完成了一项调查，评估自我报告的社会人口统计学信息、通过《生活事件清单（第5版）扩展版》测量的PPTE暴露情况以及心理健康障碍症状。
与之前的皇家骑警样本（约11种）和公共安全人员（PSP）样本（约11种）相比，参与者报告接触的PPTE类型更多（约13种）。当前样本中所有PPTE类型的患病率在统计学上显著高于之前报告的PSP和皇家骑警样本，且高于加拿大普通人群。参与者报告通过任何方式（即直接或间接）接触突然暴力死亡（98.3%）、身体攻击（97.9%）、严重交通事故（97.0%）、突然意外死亡（96.7%）和持武器攻击（93.7%）的暴露程度最高。大多数PPTE在统计学上与创伤后应激障碍、重度抑郁症、广泛性焦虑症、社交焦虑症和恐慌症筛查呈阳性显著相关，但与酒精使用障碍无关。
与之前的皇家骑警样本相比，当前参与者报告的PPTE暴露增加，再加上观察到的PPTE暴露与心理健康障碍之间的关联，凸显了需要为皇家骑警提供更多资源和支持，以减轻和管理PPTEs的影响。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2024美国心理学会，保留所有权利）
