scholarly journals The Impact of Mindfulness Training on Police Officer Stress, Mental Health, and Salivary Cortisol Levels

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Grupe ◽  
Jonah L. Stoller ◽  
Carmen Alonso ◽  
Chad McGehee ◽  
Chris Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Waitlist Control ◽  
Mindfulness Intervention

Unaddressed occupational stress and trauma contribute to elevated rates of mental illness and suicide in policing, and to violent and aggressive behavior that disproportionately impacts communities of color. Emerging evidence suggests mindfulness training with police may reduce stress and aggression and improve mental health, but there is limited evidence for changes in biological outcomes or the lasting benefits of mindfulness training. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 114 police officers from three Midwestern U.S. law enforcement agencies. We assessed stress-related physical and mental health symptoms, blood-based inflammatory markers, and hair and salivary cortisol. Participants were then randomized to an 8-week mindfulness intervention or waitlist control (WLC), and the same assessments were repeated post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Relative to waitlist control, the mindfulness group had greater improvements in psychological distress, mental health symptoms, and sleep quality post-training, gains that were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Intervention participants also had a significantly lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) at 3-month follow-up relative to waitlist control. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no intervention effects on hair cortisol, diurnal cortisol slope, or inflammatory markers. In summary, an 8-week mindfulness intervention for police officers led to self-reported improvements in distress, mental health, and sleep, and a lower CAR. These benefits persisted (or emerged) at 3-month follow-up, suggesting that this training may buffer against the long-term consequences of chronic stress. Future research should assess the persistence of these benefits over a longer period while expanding the scope of outcomes to consider the broader community of mindfulness training for police.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov#NCT03488875.

scholarly journals Correction: Mental disorders and mental health symptoms during imprisonment: A three-year follow-up study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e0231593
Author(s):  
Caroline Gabrysch ◽  
Rosemarie Fritsch ◽  
Stefan Priebe ◽  
Adrian P. Mundt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Follow Up Study

A Multimodal Mindfulness Training to Address Mental Health Symptoms in Providers Who Care for and Interact With Children in Relation to End-of-Life Care

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 838-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean O’Mahony ◽  
James Gerhart ◽  
Ira Abrams ◽  
Michelle Greene ◽  
Rory McFadden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Medical Providers ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Bereaved Children

Aim: Medical providers may face unique emotional challenges when confronted with the suffering of chronically ill, dying, and bereaved children. This study assessed the preliminary outcomes of participation in a group-based multimodal mindfulness training pilot designed to reduce symptoms of burnout and mental health symptoms in providers who interact with children in the context of end-of-life care. Methods: A total of 13 medical providers who care for children facing life-threatening illness or bereaved children participated in a 9-session multimodal mindfulness session. Mental health symptoms and burnout were assessed prior to the program, at the program midpoint, and at the conclusion of the program. Results: Participation in the pilot was associated with significant reductions in depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among providers ( P < .05). Conclusion: Mindfulness-based programs may help providers recognize and address symptoms of depression and PTSD. Additional research is needed to enhance access and uptake of programming among larger groups of participants.

Online Problem-Solving Training with and without Peer Support in Veterans with Unmet Mental Health Needs: A Pilot Study of Feasibility, User Acceptability and Patient Engagement (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Possemato ◽  
Justina Wu ◽  
Carolyn Greene ◽  
Rex MacQueen ◽  
Daniel Blonigen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Unmet Mental Health

BACKGROUND Electronic health (eHealth) tools have the potential to meet the mental health needs of individuals who have barriers to accessing in-person treatment. However, most users have less than optimal engagement with eHealth tools. Coaching from peer specialists may increase engagement with eHealth. OBJECTIVE This pilot study aimed to 1) test the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, completely automated online system to recruit, screen, enroll, assess, randomize and then deliver an intervention to a national sample of military veterans with unmet mental health needs, 2) investigate whether phone-based peer support increased usage of an online problem-solving training compared to self-directed use and 3) generate hypotheses about potential mechanisms of action for problem-solving and peer support for future full-scale research. METHODS Veterans (n=81) with unmet mental health needs were recruited via social media advertising and enrolled and randomized to self-directed use of an online problem-solving training called Moving Forward (n=28), peer supported Moving Forward (n=27), or a waitlist control (n=26) (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03555435). Participants completed pre and post study measures (8 weeks later) of problem-solving skills and confidence as well as mental health symptoms. Satisfaction was assessed at post-treatment and objective use of Moving Forward was measured with number of log-ins. RESULTS Automated recruitment, enrollment and initial assessment methods were feasible and resulted in a diverse sample of veterans with unmet mental health needs from 38 states. Automated follow-up methods resulted in 46% retention. Peer support was delivered with high fidelity and was associated with favorable patient satisfaction. Participants randomized to receive peer support had significantly more Moving Forward logins than self-directed Moving Forward participants, and those who received peer support had greater decreases in depression. Problem-solving confidence was associated with greater Moving Forward use and improvements in mental health symptoms among participants both with and without peer support. CONCLUSIONS Enrolling and assessing individuals in eHealth studies without human contact is feasible, but different methods or designs are necessary to achieve acceptable participant engagement and follow-up rates. Peer support shows potential for increasing engagement in online interventions and in reducing symptoms. Future research should investigate when and for whom peer support of eHealth is helpful. Problem-solving confidence should be further investigated as a mechanism of action for online problem-solving training. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03555435

scholarly journals Mental health symptoms and inflammatory markers among HIV infected patients in Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Memiah ◽  
Lillian Nkinda ◽  
Mtebe Majigo ◽  
Felix Humwa ◽  
Zelalaem Haile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Tumour Necrosis ◽  
Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Hiv Patients ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Stepwise Approach ◽  
Necrosis Factor

Abstract Background HIV and mental disorders are predicted to be the leading causes of illness worldwide by the year 2030. HIV-infected patients are at increased risk of developing mental disorders which are significantly associated with negative clinical outcomes and propagation of new HIV infections. There is little evidence that links inflammation to development of mental disorders among HIV patients. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate if mental health symptoms were associated with biomarkers of inflammation in HIV infected subjects. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salam, Tanzania from March to May 2018. Standardized tools were used to collect data based on the World Health Organisation's (WHO) stepwise approach for non-communicable diseases (NCD) surveillance. A total of 407 HIV+ patients on antiretroviral therapy were recruited. The WHO stepwise approach for NCD surveillance was used to collect data together with anthropometric measurements. Mental health symptoms were determined based on self-reported thoughts of helplessness, suicide ideation, depression, despair, discouragement, and feelings of isolation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test for inflammatory markers:- C-reactive protein (CRP), Iinterleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-I (sTNFR-I), and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-II (sTNFR-II). Bivariate and multi-variate analysis was conducted to examine the association between biomarkers and mental health symptoms. Results The prevalence of self-reported mental health symptoms was 42% (n = 169). Participants with self-reported symptoms of mental health had elevated CRP, were less likely to walk or use a bicycle for at least 10 minutes, were less likely to participate in moderate-intensity sports or fitness activities, and had poor adherence to HIV treatment (p < 0.005). CRP remained significant in the sex adjusted, age-sex adjusted, and age-sex-moderate exercise adjusted models. In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, self-reported mental health symptoms were significantly associated with a higher quartile of elevated CRP (OR 4.4; 95% CI 1.3–5.9) and sTNFR-II (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.4–6.6) and the third quartile of IL-18 (OR 5.1;95% CI 1.5–17.5) as compared with those reporting no mental health symptoms. The significance of sTNFR-II and IL-18 in the fully adjusted model is confounded by viral load suppression rates at the sixth month. Conclusion High CRP and sTNFR II were important contributors to the prevalence of mental health symptoms. This study is among the minimal studies that have examined mental health issues in HIV, and therefore, the findings may offer significant knowledge despite the potential reverse causality. Regardless of the nature of these associations, efforts should be directed toward screening, referral, and follow-up of HIV patients who are at-risk for mental health disorders.

scholarly journals Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth E. Marshall ◽  
Josie Milligan-Saville ◽  
Katherine Petrie ◽  
Richard A. Bryant ◽  
Philip B. Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Health Screening ◽  
Mental Health Screening ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract Background Mental health screening in the workplace aims to identify employees who are becoming symptomatic, in order to provide timely support and evidence-based interventions to those affected. Given the stigma associated with mental illness, accurate disclosure of mental health symptoms cannot be assumed. The present study sought to investigate factors associated with the accurate reporting of mental health symptoms amongst police officers. Methods A total of 90 serving police officers completed identical mental health screening surveys, one administered by the employer and the other anonymously by an independent organisation. Responses were then linked to compare differences in the number and severity of mental health symptoms reported on each questionnaire. Results Comparisons of matched self-report scores indicated that employees under-reported symptoms of mental health disorders when completing screening administered by their employer, with only 76.3% of symptoms declared. Under-reporting occurred regardless of gender and symptom type. Less senior staff (p = 0.05) and those with the most severe post-traumatic stress disorder and common mental disorder symptoms (p = 0.008) were significantly more likely to under-report symptoms. Conclusions Employer-administered mental health screening is not able to accurately capture all mental health symptoms amongst first responders. The fact that the severity of symptoms predicted the level of under-reporting means that simple changes to cut-off values cannot correct this problem.

Acculturative stress, mental health symptoms, and the role of salivary inflammatory markers among a Latino sample.

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Maldonado ◽  
Andrea Preciado ◽  
Melissa Buchanan ◽  
Kim Pulvers ◽  
Devan Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms
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