Clinical Studies
The following studies and research documents we feel are important to recognizing not only the symptoms of PTSI but how they can affect retired firefighters in particular. We encourage you take time to read them.
Assessment of Psychological Functioning in Retired Firefighters
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Dr, Jordana Simone Pepper
The past decade has witnessed a significant increase in clinical attention directed tomental health problems in firefighters. The basis for heightened activity in this area is the convergence of evidence indicating that firefighters demonstrate significantly high levels of psychological disorders such as depression and PTSD (Henderson et al., 2016). A previously unexplored risk factor for psychopathology in firefighters is active retirement. Retirement can lead to a decline in psychological functioning, as well as a decline in a person’s self-concept clarity through group loss (Slotter, Winter & Soto, 2015). This loss has the potential to cause, or enhance, feelings of depression, anger, social isolation, and worthlessness. Therefore, it is increasingly important to examine self-concept clarity and its relationship to psychological functioning in retired firefighters to help decrease their risk of developing mental health problems that can lead to diminished functioning, self-harm, or even suicidality.
The purpose of this study was to better understand prevalence rates of psychological disorders in retired firefighters, and to determine if significant associations exist between self-concept clarity in retirees and overall psychological
functioning. Further analyses explored whether or not self-concept clarity mediated or moderated associations between antecedent variables and psychological functioning such as length of time in retirement, daily pain level, and length of time served as a career firefighter. It was anticipated that this study would identify significant psychological problems faced by firefighters in retirement, which would ultimately help lead to the creation of both pre-retirement and retirement services focused on enhancing
psychological wellbeing for retirees.
Extinguishing Stigma among Firefighters: An Examination of Stress, Social Support, and Help-Seeking Attitudes
Gemma M. Isaac, Marla J. Buchanan
Faculty of Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Firefighters are exposed to highly stressful environments, often witnessing multiple traumatic events throughout their careers. The cumulation of stress and traumas firefighters are exposed to have left many in the profession with physical and psychological injuries, and with such injuries left untreated, can lead to lifelong suffering or suicide. The primary objectives for this research investigate firefighter occupational stress, peer support, and attitudes towards help-seeking for mental health in the hopes to fill in gaps understanding why firefighters continue to suffer in silence.
Sleep Latency and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Retired Career Florida Firefighters
IAddison C Testoff 1, Natasha Schaefer Solle, Shirin Shafazand, Paola Louzado-Feliciano, David J Lee, Tulay Koru-Sengul, Erin N Kobetz, Alberto J Caban-Martinez
Our objective was to estimate the association of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleep latency among retired firefighters.
Results: Among the 500 participants, 8.0% screened positive for PTSD risk and 37.6% had prolonged sleep onset latency (≥20 minutes to fall asleep). Retired firefighters with PTSD risk were 2.7 times more likely (adjusted odds ratio, 2.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-5.75) to have prolonged sleep latency compared with those without PTSD risk while controlling for covariates.
Conclusions: Retired firefighters who screen positive for PTSD risk are three times more likely to report delayed sleep onset latency. risk are three times more likely to report delayed sleep onset latency.
Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in firefighters
Kevin S. Del Ben ïƒ , Joseph R. Scotti, Yi-Chuen Chen & Beverly L. Fortson
Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been extensively studied in victim populations (e.g., survivors of sexual assault), but not nearly as thoroughly in the responders who come to the aid of those victims, particularly firefighters. The prevalence rates for PTSD (as de"ned by previous authors) in firefighters vary widely, from 6.5% to 37%, using various cut off scores on a variety of measures (primarily self-report) with rather dissimilar samples and events. This study utilized the Post traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), a measure consistent with current DSM-IV criteria, to evaluate the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in 131 firefighters from two US states. Using a standard cut off score on the PCL, a prevalence rate of 8% was found.
W hen measures of fear, helplessness, or horror (DSM-IV Criterion A2) and functional impairment (Criterion F) were included, a lower prevalence rate of 5% was obtained, a rate lower than typically is found in previously published reports. Previous psychological treatment, age at which the firefighters started working, Miscellaneous Calls, and the response of horror following the firefighter's Single Worst Event predicted PTSD symptoms. The present findings highlight the importance of using a symptom measure consistent with the full DSM-5 criteria to more fully assess firefighters’ responses of fear, helplessness, and horror.
BREAKING THE SILENCE: INSIGHTS INTO THE IMPACT OF BEING A FIREFIGHTER ON MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH
LISA ROBINSON KITT
B.A., Simon Fraser University, 1996
M.A., The University of British Columbia, 2001
The purpose ofthis investigation was to explore the impact being a firefighter has on men’s mental health. Using narrative methodology, six participants were interviewed using an in-depth, open-ended, semi-structured approach.
Through a holistic-content analysis (Lieblich, 1998), two major themes — mental health impact of doing the work; and mental health impact of working in the fire department culture — and numerous sub-themes were reflected by the participants as being significant in regards to how their mental health has been impacted. Contributions of this study include: (a) providing insights into how firefighters experience their work, both in terms ofthe job requirements as well as the occupational culture in which they work, (b) offering personal descriptions and thus a deeper understanding of trauma symptoms related to fire fighting, (c) providing a window into a largely closed culture and how the overt and tacit norms in the fire department impact the firefighters mental health, and finally, (d) by speaking, the participants have started the process of breaking the silence that seems to plague the fire service related to disclosing mental health symptoms.
Acknowledgement comes before acceptance which precedes treatment and healing. The overarching goal of this research was to fill many of the gaps in the research literature and to enhance our clinical understanding of first responder mental health. This study not only adds to the development of the empirical literature and the construction of theory in the area of trauma, masculinity and health, and occupational culture, it also provides practitioners with empirically-based information on how clients who are detrimentally impacted from being a first responder can best be served