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Christopher M, Bowen S, Witkiewitz K, Grupe D, Goerling R, Hunsinger M, Oken B, Korecki T, Rosenbaum N. A multisite feasibility randomized clinical trial of mindfulness-based resilience training for aggression, stress, and health in law enforcement officers. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:142. [PMID: 38575888 PMCID: PMC10993469 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04452-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are exposed to significant stressors that can impact their mental health, increasing risk of posttraumatic stress disorder, burnout, at-risk alcohol use, depression, and suicidality. Compromised LEO health can subsequently lead to aggression and excessive use of force. Mindfulness training is a promising approach for high-stress populations and has been shown to be effective in increasing resilience and improving mental health issues common among LEOs. METHODS This multi-site, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial was intended to establish optimal protocols and procedures for a future full-scale, multi-site trial assessing effects of mindfulness-based resilience training (MBRT) versus an attention control (stress management education [SME]) and a no-intervention control, on physiological, attentional, and psychological indices of stress and mental health. The current study was designed to enhance efficiency of recruitment, engagement and retention; optimize assessment, intervention training and outcome measures; and ensure fidelity to intervention protocols. Responsiveness to change over time was examined to identify the most responsive potential proximate and longer-term assessments of targeted outcomes. RESULTS We observed high feasibility of recruitment and retention, acceptability of MBRT, fidelity to assessment and intervention protocols, and responsiveness to change for a variety of putative physiological and self-report mechanism and outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS Results of this multi-site feasibility trial set the stage for a full-scale, multi-site trial testing the efficacy of MBRT on increasing LEO health and resilience, and on decreasing more distal outcomes of aggression and excessive use of force that would have significant downstream benefits for communities they serve. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03784846 . Registered on December 24th, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Christopher
- School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, 190 SE 8thAve, Suite 260, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA.
| | - Sarah Bowen
- School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, 190 SE 8thAve, Suite 260, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA
| | - Katie Witkiewitz
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, 2001 Redondo S Dr, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA
| | - Daniel Grupe
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin Madison, 625 West Washington Ave, Madison, WI, 53703, USA
| | - Richard Goerling
- School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, 190 SE 8thAve, Suite 260, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA
| | - Matthew Hunsinger
- School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, 190 SE 8thAve, Suite 260, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA
| | - Barry Oken
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Neurological Disorders, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Tyrus Korecki
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Nils Rosenbaum
- Behavioral Sciences Department, Albuquerque Police Department, 400 Rome, NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, USA
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