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Stress Among Police Body Handlers

A Long-Term Follow-up

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

David A. Alexander*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, Medical School, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill, Aberdeen AB9 2ZD, and Honorary Consultant, Grampian Police

Abstract

Thirty-five police officers were followed up three years after they had been first assessed following their involvement in the retrieval and identification of human remains after a major disaster. Most of these officers were free from signs of psychiatric morbidity. Organisational and managerial practices appear to be powerful antidotes to adverse post-traumatic reactions. In this study the use of a longitudinal design, with a pre-disaster baseline and a control group, suggests that these are robust findings.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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