By Joanna Putman
Police1
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new study has highlighted the high prevalence of head injuries and associated mental health symptoms among law enforcement officers, a group previously overlooked in concussion surveillance, according to a news release from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, the study involved 381 law enforcement personnel from central Ohio, according to the release. Participants reported their head injury history, years of service and rank. They also completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of PTSD and depression.
The survey found that 74% reported a lifetime history of one or more head injuries, with 30% sustaining a head injury on the job, according to the release. Many injuries went unreported and untreated by healthcare professionals. The study also linked head injuries to higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms.
“This is an area where we have to improve awareness, just like we did in the sport concussion world,” said lead author Jaclyn Caccese, PhD, assistant professor at The Ohio State University.
Caccese emphasized the need for better reporting and treatment of head injuries to improve long-term health outcomes for officers.
“The goal is really to improve officer safety and health in the long term,” she said.
The study’s co-authors have advocated for the implementation of a concussion return-to-duty protocol for law enforcement officers, similar to those used in sports and the military, according to the release. This protocol includes removal from duty, a gradual increase in activity and medical screening before returning to full duty.
Josh Walters, a deputy in the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and co-author of the study, highlighted the importance of physical fitness and the need to extend the health of deputies.
“Being physically fit is an important part of our job because not only do my colleagues depend on me, but the community depends on me,” Walters said.
The next steps involve adopting the proposed return-to-duty protocol and testing its effectiveness in different organizations, according to the release.
“Now we have some data that we can present to administrations, to unions, to leadership that says, ‘Here’s the problem. This is how we can fix it,’” Walters said.
NEXT: Research into the effects of trauma on officers’ mental health, including the role of Traumatic Brain Injuries, is expanding, helping to address both psychological and physical health in law enforcement. Listen to this Policing Matters podcast episode, which explores ways agencies can develop comprehensive solutions that address the mental wellness of officers, from recruitment to retirement.