Publication date: Jul 08, 2026
This study examined the prevalence, mechanisms, and treatment of lifetime and duty-related head injuries (HIs) among law enforcement and corrections officers (LEOs), and their associations with mental health outcomes. Online survey (September 2024-March 2025). Two hundred ninety eight LEOs in Ohio (mean age = 43 +/- 12 years; median 17 years of service; 18. 2% military history). Cross-sectional, anonymous survey. HI history was assessed using the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Identification Method. Mental health outcomes were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), PTSD Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16). A high prevalence of HIs were reported: 64. 1% of LEOs endorsed at least 1 lifetime HI and 28. 3% reported at least 1 duty-related HI. Critically, these injuries were largely unaddressed, with 64. 4% of lifetime HIs and 72. 8% of duty-related HIs remaining undiagnosed or untreated. Common duty-related mechanisms included physical training (24. 3%), fights (21. 4%), falls (20. 4%), blast exposure (18. 5%), and vehicle incidents (15. 3%). Significant mental health symptoms were prevalent, with 25. 8% reporting mild, 14. 2% moderate, and 7. 8% moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9); 17. 4% screened positive for PTSD (PCL-C), and 14. 7% reported difficulties with emotion regulation (DERS-16). Duty-related HIs were common, frequently untreated, and associated with adverse mental health outcomes. The absence of structured TBI recognition and return-to-duty protocols leaves LEOs vulnerable to reinjury, prolonged recovery, and reduced occupational readiness. These findings highlight the need for systematic TBI screening, occupational health supports, and implementation of tailored return-to-duty protocols to enhance recovery and improve workforce safety.
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Depressive | depression |
| Ninety | patient health questionnaire |
| Ohio | posttraumatic stress disorder |
| Reinjury | traumatic brain injuries |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | Head Injuries |
| disease | MESH | Traumatic Brain Injury |
| disease | MESH | PTSD |
| disease | MESH | PCL |
| disease | MESH | injuries |
| disease | MESH | included |
| disease | MESH | reinjury |