NCJ Number
43650
Date Published
1975
Length
32 pages
Annotation
A PSYCHIATRIST WHO WORKS WITH DISABLED POLICE OFFICERS OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT DISCUSSES THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF JOB-RELATED STRESS AND METHODS OF ALLEVIATING THAT STRESS.
Abstract
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS PRODUCES NOT ONLY MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES, BUT ALSO A WIDE RANGE OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL DISTURBANCES THAT CAN LEAD TO DEMONSTRABLE ORGANIC DISEASE (E.G., SKIN DISORDERS, BACKACHE, MUSCLE CRAMPS, TENSION HEADACHES, BRONCHIAL ASTHMA, HYPERVENTILATION, ULCERS, GENITOURINARY DISTURBANCES, AND ENDOCRINE DISORDERS). A MAJOR PRESENTING DISABILITY AMONG POLICE OFFICERS IS THE LOW BACK SYNDROME. CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS OF DISABLED OFFICERS IN LOS ANGELES INDICATE THAT THE MOST FREQUENT COMMON DENOMINATOR OF PERCEIVED STRESS IS PERFORMANCE ANXIETY RELATED TO A FEAR OF DOING SOMETHING WRONG, OF BEING CRITICIZED, OR OF BEING INVESTIGATED, TRIED, SUSPENDED, OR FIRED. OTHER SOURCES OF PERFORMANCE ANXIETY INCLUDE CONCERN ABOUT PROVING MANLINESS AND ABOUT CIVIL SUITS FILED AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS. ANOTHER SOURCE OF CONFLICT AND STRESS IS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE OFFICERS' ORIENTATION TOWARD FINANCIAL, MORAL, AND PHYSICAL SECURITY AND HIS WORK-GOAL ORIENTATION OF SEARCHING FOR EVIL. THE DISABILITY PROCESS ITSELF CONTAINS MANY POSSIBLE SOURCES OF TRAUMA THAT CAN LEAD TO PSYCHIATRIC COMPLICATIONS. ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACHES TO REDUCING JOB STRESS FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND TO AMELIORATING THE STRESSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISABILITY PROCESS ARE SUGGESTED. IDEALLY, EARLY DETECTION OF MENTAL DISORDER OR PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS DISORDERS THROUGH OBSERVATION, PEER INTAKE, SELF-ADMINISTERED SCREENING TESTS, AND BIOCHEMICAL SCREENING CAN FACILITATE THE PROMPT, SHORT-TERM COUNSELING OR APPROPRIATE REFERRAL OF THE EMOTIONALLY DISTRESSED OFFICER. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED.