[StBernard] Post-Katrina Effects on St. Bernard Parish Police Officers to be Studied

[Westley Annis]

Post-Katrina Effects on St. Bernard Parish Police Officers to be Studied

A grant from NIOSH will enable John Violanti to study the long-term
mental-health impact of Hurricane Katrina on officers who policed the
disaster in St. Bernard Parish. 

Release Date: August 30, 2010

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A University at Buffalo researcher will spend the next two
years studying post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the long-term
effects of Hurricane Katrina on police officers who worked during the
disaster. 

The present proposal, funded by a $156,750 grant from the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), will examine the long-term
post-Katrina mental-health and social impact on police officers who policed
the disaster in St. Bernard Parish, located southeast of New Orleans and one
of the areas most devastated by the hurricane. 

John Violanti, PhD, research associate professor in UB's School of Public
Health and Health Professions and former member of the New York State
Police, is lead researcher. 

"Previous research suggests that disasters have a harmful impact on a
person's mental health," says Violanti, "and no more is this evident than in
those who respond first to disaster, conduct rescue and recovery missions,
and try to maintain civil order, as well as deal with their own personal
losses.

"Such was the case with the police in the New Orleans area during Katrina,"
he continues. "In addition, the police, as well as all residents, were
impacted by the lack of essential services following the storm. Because of
this void in services, mental health among those most exposed at multiple
levels of the storm -- the first responders -- got no relief. This may have
led to a prolonged strain and extension of symptoms over time."

Through a decade of studies of police officers, Violanti and colleagues have
shown that the pressures of law enforcement put officers at risk for high
blood pressure, insomnia, increased levels of destructive stress hormones,
heart problems, PTSD and suicide. 

The present study proposes to assess the possible persistence and/or
presence of mental-health symptoms in the police officers since Katrina. The
St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Department was chosen because that location
likely suffered the worst brunt of the storm. 

The study aims to describe the demographic and psychosocial characteristics
among police officers to determine if psychological symptoms are connected
with a variety of life events associated with the hurricane.

Researchers also will gather data to develop future interventions tailored
to the specific needs of the officers and, in addition to publishing the
results of their research on this traumatic event, will pass them along to
agencies and emergency responders who could use the findings in the future. 

"This research may increase our understanding of the prolonged psychological
effects of disasters upon first responders," says Violanti. "These results
may benefit police officers directly by providing clearer evidence of the
relationship between the psychological factors they experience, which could
result in organizational changes to reduce stress."

Michael Rutter, PhD, and Holly Fetter, PhD, from the Department of Counselor
Education at Canisius College in Buffalo, are collaborating on the study. 

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university,
a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its
largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue
their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and
professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is
a member of the Association of American Universities.