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Help-Seeking and Substance Use Among Police Staff After the 2018 Strasbourg Christmas Market Attack.

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Title: Help-Seeking and Substance Use Among Police Staff After the 2018 Strasbourg Christmas Market Attack.
Authors: Nourry N; Service de Pathologies Professionnelles et Médecine du Travail, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.; Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France.; Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université Gustave Eiffel, UMRESTTE, Lyon, Cedex, France., Nohales L; Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université Gustave Eiffel, UMRESTTE, Lyon, Cedex, France.; SMST-CRPPE Lyon (Centre Régional de Pathologies Professionnelles et Environnementales), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France., Lalanne L; Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France.; Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictology Department, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.; INSERM U1329, Strasbourg Translational NEuroscience and Psychiatry (STEP), Team Psychiatry, Strasbourg, France.; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de, Strasbourg, France., Fort E; Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université Gustave Eiffel, UMRESTTE, Lyon, Cedex, France., Gonzalez M; Service de Pathologies Professionnelles et Médecine du Travail, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.; Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France., Vidailhet P; Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France.; Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictology Department, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.; INSERM U1329, Strasbourg Translational NEuroscience and Psychiatry (STEP), Team Psychiatry, Strasbourg, France.; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de, Strasbourg, France.; Regional Center for Psychotraumatism Great East, Strasbourg, France., Mengin AC; Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France.; Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictology Department, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.; INSERM U1329, Strasbourg Translational NEuroscience and Psychiatry (STEP), Team Psychiatry, Strasbourg, France.; Regional Center for Psychotraumatism Great East, Strasbourg, France., Charbotel B; Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université Gustave Eiffel, UMRESTTE, Lyon, Cedex, France.; SMST-CRPPE Lyon (Centre Régional de Pathologies Professionnelles et Environnementales), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
Source: American journal of industrial medicine [Am J Ind Med] 2026 Aug; Vol. 69 (8), pp. 601-613. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 24.
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8101110 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1097-0274 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 02713586 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Ind Med Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: New York Ny : Wiley-Blackwell
Original Publication: New York : Alan R. Liss, c1980-
MeSH Terms: Police*/psychology , Police*/statistics & numerical data , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*/therapy , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*/psychology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*/etiology , Substance-Related Disorders*/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders*/psychology , Terrorism*/psychology , Patient Acceptance of Health Care*/statistics & numerical data , Help-Seeking Behavior*, France/epidemiology ; Mental Health Services/statistics & numerical data ; Depression/epidemiology ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires
Abstract: Background: The use of mental health services by police staff is usually low. After the 2018 attack on the Strasbourg Christmas market, police officers exposed to psychotraumatic risks were found to have a higher PTSD risk. This study aims to describe the help-seeking and substance use by police staff after the attack.
Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 1697 police officers 3 months after the attack. The 475 respondents were classified as exposed (took action to stop the terrorists, pursued them in the city, or helped a victim) or unexposed and indirect-exposed. Counselling, treatment, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and their habitus changes were assessed. Univariable analysis was followed by multivariable analysis adjusted for gender, age, number of previous traumatic events, level of exposure, and probable PTSD or depression, using logistic regression.
Results: Of the 475 respondents, 10% consulted a psychologist/psychiatrist, 24% a physiotherapist and 62% their general practitioner within 3 months of the assault. Initiation of new anxiolytic/antidepressant treatment (OR = 4.59 [1.11-18.91]), consultation with a psychologist/psychiatrist (OR = 5.02 [2.44-10.32]), increased alcohol or tobacco consumption (OR = 10.42 [3.45-31.43]) were associated with probable PTSD.
Conclusions: The use of mental health services is insufficient for the care of probable PTSD, which is associated with increased tobacco or alcohol use, encouraging further research to improve the use of mental health services among police staff.
(© 2026 The Author(s). American Journal of Industrial Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
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Grant Information: Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: alcohol use; depression; mental health service; police force; post‐traumatic stress disorders; terrorism
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260524 Date Completed: 20260710 Latest Revision: 20260728
Update Code: 20260729
PubMed Central ID: PMC13350426
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.70092
PMID: 42178512
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1097-0274
DOI:10.1002/ajim.70092