Post-Concussional Syndrome - A Disability Factor in Law Enforcement Personnel (From Psychological Services for Law Enforcement, P 375-381, 1986, J Reese and H A Goldstein, eds. - See NCJ-104098)

• NCJ Number: 104120
• Author(s): B T Reed
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/NCJRS; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-104098.

Annotation

Police psychological services can reduce the severity of postconcussional syndrome (a psychological impairment), which is often experienced by officers who have received mild head injuries.

Abstract

Postconcussional syndrome may impact an officer's intellectual functioning, emotional stability, job performance, concentration, memory, and judgment. Officers receiving mild head injuries should receive a neuropsychological screening and a clinical interview to provide early detection of impaired intellectual functioning. Such intervention should be repeated to determine if residual organic factors exist and whether poor psychological response to the injury is exacerbating the symptoms. Treatment factors are dependent on the level of dysfunction. Psychological evaluation could aid in the determination of whether the officer should receive time off with treatment or return to regular or light duty. An undiagnosed and untreated injury, especially one involving both organic and psychological impairment, can have adverse consequences for the department and the officer. Liability issues arise when an officer is prematurely sent back to full duty while still impaired. 43 references.