Stress among police body handlers. A long-term follow-up.
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.
Alexander
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DA
Department of Mental Health, Medical School, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002102:Cadaver; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012066:Relief Work; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*