Mental traumatization of police officers during service in a medical and biological emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Relevance. Internal Affairs employees during the anti-epidemic measures of COVID-19 period protected public order and the safety of citizens in crowded places. During the pandemic, according to departmental statistics, morbidity rates in police officers were 6.6 times higher than in general population and close to the healthcare professionals. Due to police officers' professional activities, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated not only with high contamination risks, but also with certain emotional stress and destabilization.Intention. To identify mental traumatization features in police officers who serve to protect public order and citizens safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methodology. 371 male employees of the Internal Affairs Headquarters in Moscow were surveyed. Three groups were identified: Group I - 127 police officers (average age 33.3 ± 1.1 years, service experience 6.1 ± 1.3 years) with positive test results and COVID-19 clinical manifestations (mild and moderate severity, inpatient and outpatient treatment) over the period from 10.04.2020 to 9.06.2020 (the restrictive measures and self-isolation period announced by the decree of the Russian Chief State Sanitary Doctor on 30.03.2020 N 9 “On additional measures to prevent the COVID-2019 spread in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic”); Group II - 118 healthy police officers (average age 30.9 ± 1.5 years, service experience 5.6 ± 1.9 years), without COVID-19 clinical manifestations but released from their duties as contacts; Group III - 126 healthy police officers (average age 32.4 ± 1.5 years, service experience 7.1 ± 1.9 years) not released from their duties during the COVID-19 pandemic, who protected public order in crowded places (patrolling streets, metro duty, etc.). Our questionnaire was intended for self-assessing mental state, and experimental psychological examination was also included. To meet the anti-epidemic requirements, respondents were surveyed online using electronic digital resources.Results and Discussion. Based on self-assessment results, police officers in all groups showed high levels of well-being, mood, performance and emotional stability on duty during the COVID-19 pandemic.Mental traumatization in police officers of the Group 1 was associated with increased personal anxiety and responses to everyday situations tended to be maladaptive, with physical and verbal aggression, irritation. In Group 2 employees, mental trauma included emotional stress and situational anxiety associated with the COVID-19 risk. Healthy police officers who were not released from their duties during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to serve as law enforcement officers in crowded areas were prone to non-constructive responses to stress in the form of feelings of guilt, hostility, and irritability. In all respondents, constructive business relationships with direct managers and additional financial incentives helped prevent psychological trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusion. The study results justify developing an algorithm for psycho-prevention in police officers during medical and biological emergencies, including psychological support, social support and a positive social environment in service teams. This will help prevent the psychological trauma and borderline mental disorders in police officers and, accordingly, increase their personal reliability and reduce damage to the Department image.