What is it about?
Studies on evidence-based prevention strategies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is limited, particularly on high-risk workers such as first responders. There is also a growing need to integrate physical and psychological health strategies to prevent the development of PTSD. This is of particular importance for first responders who are at high risk of physical and psychological injury through the nature of their work. We have shown for the first time, the potential of a workplace delivered yoga resilience training program in preventing the development of PTSD in active-duty first responders.
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Why is it important?
This is the first randomized controlled trial conducted among active-duty first responders to provide evidence for a workplace resilience training program that integrates both physical and psychological health strategies. We found a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms in the short-term, and significant improvements in adaptive coping strategies in the training group compared to the control group. Our study also found sustained significant improvements in PTSD symptoms for individuals with subthreshold PTSD, showing further potential for this training as a preventative intervention in reducing the future risk of PTSD among active-duty first responders.
Perspectives
It hoped that this study may be helpful to high-risk organizations and first responders when applying evidence-based strategies in the workplace to prevent the development of mental illness. From a broader public health perspective, it also shows the importance of the workplace as a preventative setting, and the need to integrate physical and psychological health strategies in a manner that is job-specific and practical for employees.
Leona Tan
University of New South Wales
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Yoga resilience training to prevent the development of posttraumatic stress disorder in active-duty first responders: A cluster randomized controlled trial., Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy, March 2024, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/tra0001667.
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