Mindfulness-based resilience training for aggression, stress and health in law enforcement officers: study protocol for a multisite, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to establish optimal protocols for a future trial assessing mindfulness-based resilience training's effects on physiological, behavioral, and psychological outcomes in law enforcement officers.
Results Summary
The study focused on feasibility and optimization of procedures for recruitment, intervention fidelity, and outcome measures, but did not report specific efficacy results for mindfulness training. The long-term goal is to reduce violence and improve resilience and mental health among law enforcement officers.
Population
Law enforcement officers (LEOs) exposed to high stress.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness training | increase | resilience | high-stress populations | - | has been shown effective for increasing | #1 |
mindfulness training | decrease | negative mental health outcomes | law enforcement officers | - | has been shown effective for improving | #2 |
mindfulness-based resilience training | neutral | physiological, behavioral, and psychological outcomes | - | - | assessing effects of | #3 |
mindfulness-based resilience training | decrease | violence | law enforcement officers | - | reduce | #4 |
mindfulness-based resilience training | increase | resilience | law enforcement officers | - | increase | #5 |
mindfulness-based resilience training | increase | mental health | law enforcement officers | - | increase | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are exposed to significant stressors, elevating their risk for aggression and excessive use of force, as well as mental health consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder, burnout, alcohol misuse, depression, and suicide. Mindfulness training is a promising approach with high-stress populations that has been shown effective for increasing resilience and improving negative mental health outcomes common among LEOs. METHOD: Implemented at two sites, the proposed study is designed to establish optimal protocols and procedures for a future full-scale, multisite trial assessing effects of mindfulness-based resilience training versus an attention control (stress management education) and a no-intervention control on physiological, behavioral, and psychological outcomes. To prepare for this future clinical trial, the current study is designed to: enhance efficiency of recruitment, engagement, and retention; optimize laboratory, assessment, and data management procedures; optimize intervention training and ensure fidelity to intervention protocols; and assess participant experience and optimize outcome measures across two sites. Herein, we describe the protocol and methodology of this multisite, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial. DISCUSSION: The long-term objective of this line of research is to develop an intervention that will reduce violence and increase resilience and mental health among LEOs, as well as yield significant benefits for the communities and residents they serve. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03784846. Registered on 24 December 2018.