Stress and substance abuse - Assessment of psychiatric problems among police personnel

Law enforcement, particularly policing, is a highly stressful occupation leading to stress, depression, anxiety, and substance intake. Over time, such persistent stress can affect both their professional efficacy and personal well-being.

To estimate the level of stress, depression, anxiety, and substance intake patterns among police personnel.

A cross-sectional study consisting of 75 police personnel, including constables and assistant sub-inspectors were conducted in Indore district, where four police stations were selected by simple random sampling and nonprobability convenience sampling in two stages. police stress questionnaire-operational and organizational, DASS scale, and ASSIST were used. Data was entered in an Excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS Software. Categorical data is expressed as proportions and percentages and continuous data as mean and standard deviation. Wherever applicable test of association was applied.

A total of 42 (56%) participants were in a moderate stress level in the operational stress questionnaire; however, it was 28 (37%) in organizational stress. A total of 19 (25%) police personnel had some features of depression, with 13 (17.3%) being mild, five (6.7%) moderate, and one (1.3%) being severe. Tobacco intake (smoke as well as smokeless) was present in 35 (47%) participants, while alcohol intake was found in 44 (59%) participants.

The majority of the participants were in a moderate stress level in the operational stress questionnaire; however, low or no stress was reported by a few according to the organizational stress questionnaire. In comparison with depression, many participants were found to have anxiety. Alcohol intake was more commonly seen than tobacco intake.