Tragedy in Florida Leads to Increased Benefits for First Responders with PTSD

 

Police and firefighters who experience traumatic events on the job sometimes develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There’s been ongoing controversy over whether these first responders should be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to help their recoveries from PTSD. Following the horrific shooting at a Florida school in February, that state adopted legislation that extends benefits. Find out what the law says and how it will work. 

Should workers’ compensation provide mental health benefits to first responders who witness traumatic events? It’s a question being discussed throughout the country. After the deaths of 17 people in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida at the hands of a 19-year-old former student on Valentine’s Day, that state’s legislature expanded workers’ compensation coverage for first responders who are exposed to trauma on the job and develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The legislation was passed, and Senate Bill 376 was signed by Florida Governor Rick Scott in March, 2018 despite concerns from opponents about what they say could be exorbitant costs to cover a multitude of stress-related conditions which may or may not be caused by the workplace.

In our extensive work with first responders who suffer the psychological effects of such tragedies, we have seen that early and short-term interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be highly effective in helping them deal with these incidents and return to function and productivity. What is most important — and what can keep costs lower — is ensuring these and other workers affected by trauma get help as soon as possible and get the right treatment.

 

PTSD

Many states do not currently provide workers’ compensation coverage to first responders with mental health issues unless there is a physical injury associated with the mental condition. Among the issues states are debating is the standard that would be used to judge benefits eligibility.

PTSD is defined as a reaction to a traumatic event, a stressor, the victim has experienced, witnessed or been confronted with that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others. Additionally, the person’s response involves intense fear, helplessness or horror.

PTSD claims arise when a worker is exposed to a life-threatening event in the workplace, and has persisting symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria.  It causes the person to engage in avoidance behavior of any stimuli related to the event, along with a general numbing of reactions. The person may constantly relive the event and have significant deterioration in his ability to function. PTSD at its worst can trigger anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and even suicide.

That said, not everyone exposed to a horrific tragedy develops PTSD, and of those who do, some may have some, though not all symptoms. A major determinant is when and what type of treatment the person gets. The causality of PTSD is of particular importance in workers compensation claims, since the onset of PTSD-like symptoms is multi-factorial.

Some of the risks for developing PTSD after witnessing a trauma are the same psychosocial factors present in injured workers with delayed recoveries; substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and past trauma.

A study of police officers in Quebec examined risk factors for PTSD. It found that peritraumatic, or the specific circumstances at the time of and immediately after the trauma play a role in whether a person develops PTSD. For example, those who have strong negative emotional reactions — fear, guilt, shame, anger, disgust or sadness — or physical reactions such as palpitations, trembling, dizziness, sweating, hot flushes or shivering during or right after the event are more vulnerable to developing PTSD.

A key component in peritraumatic distress associated with PTSD development is the notion of loss of control, whether it is one’s emotions or bodily functions. Also, dissociation, or a detachment and lack of emotional reactivity, is a risk for PTSD.

The severity of the event and the perception of negative social interactions are also major risk factors for the development of PTSD symptoms following a traumatic event. Getting appropriate social support during or immediately after the incident can help prevent PTSD development. Talking to colleagues, seeking psychological help and having time off are key.

Preventing/Treating PTSD

 

Getting treatment immediately after a traumatic event can mitigate and even prevent PTSD from developing. Victims should be given ‘psychological first aid’ in the days after. In addition to an assessment of the worker’s psychological and physical state, a trained person should also help make the person feel secure by informing them of the possible psychological consequences and giving them tangible, emotional support.

CBT is recommended within the first few weeks following a traumatic event. When provided to the worker in a timely manner, this does not need to be long-term or expensive. In fact, several CBT sessions within two weeks of the event can help people who have acute stress disorder symptoms.

We see the results of this time and again. Proper diagnosis and CBT delivered very soon after a traumatic incident gets the vast majority of workers back to productivity relatively soon. Some need further follow up but will still recover within a few months. Workers who have delayed recoveries following a traumatic event may have comorbid issues that need additional attention.

Conclusion

First responders are much more likely to witness life-threatening events to themselves or others. Research, such as that done on Canadian police can help us develop preventive measures to help them better prepare to face traumatic events. When they do, short term CBT interventions can get them back to functionality quickly.

Ascellus – Integrated Medical Case Solutions – is the premier behavioral medicine network for pain and trauma response with evidence-based outcomes and a proven track record for transforming workers’ compensation cases. Ascellus makes intervention efficient with a national network of 1,500+ psychologists and psychiatrists in all 50 states.