Personality, depressive symptoms and prior trauma exposure of new recruits at two Metropolitan Police Service academies in South Africa

While traumatic stress studies have been undertaken in the South African Police Service (SAPS),1,2 there are few data related to traumatic events experienced by policemen of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) – a branch of SAPS concerned with law enforcement on the road. Similar to other disaster workers, these policemen are expected to be at increased risk of acute stress disorder, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to Fullerton et al.,3 disaster workers are seeking care for emotional problems at an increased rate. In the general population, risk factors for the development of PTSD and depression following trauma exposure include factors such as previous trauma exposure, previous PTSD and personality disorders.4 Yehuda5 postulated that previous trauma exposure and subsequent development of PTSD may have something to do with biological responses that are sensitised following initial trauma. Phelps et al.6 conceptualised that in PTSD there is inadequate processing of trauma memories. This, together with negative cognitive appraisals at the time of the trauma, may lead to nonintegration and encapsulation of the memories. With repeated exposure to traumatic events, these memories are stimulated and may lead to recurrent PTSD symptoms.6