Three in four police officers have experienced at least one concussion Fewer than 1 in 4 of these head injuries were treated Those with prior concussions were more likely to have symptoms of PTSD or depression MONDAY, Aug. 5, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Three out of four police officers have experienced at least one , increasing their risk of mental health issues, a new study suggests. About 74% of Ohio law enforcement officers had suffered one or more head injuries during their lifetimes, researchers found.
Around 30% had a head injury that happened on the job. However, fewer than 1 in 4 of the head injuries were diagnosed or treated by a doctor, researchers found. “This is an area where we have to improve awareness, just like we did in the sport concussion world,” said lead researcher , an assistant professor in the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
For the study, researchers surveyed 381 police in central Ohio about their lifetime head injury history. The participants also completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of PTSD and depression. Prior head injuries had occurred in 282 of the officers.
These injuries occurred mostly from sports, but also were caused by falling, being hit by someone or something, car accidents or exposure to a blast, researchers said. More than 50% of participants said they had a head injury severe enough to lose consciousness, feel dazed or confused, or cause a gap in memory -- all sign.