Data Analysis: “Testing the Model”
22Zero Follow Me, Inc., focused on the development of the Tactical Resiliency Process (TRP), a non-content intervention to reduce trauma, in April 2020; the application of this protocol was initially offered in March 2020.
The effectiveness of this PTSD-focused intervention was assessed on 100 individuals between April 1, 2020, and September 15, 2020.
The description of the initial 100 individuals who requested this intervention is as follows:
Age:
Ages: 19 to 69 years old. The majority ( 62%) are between 30 and 49 years of age. Two individuals whose ages are 89 (male) and 103 (female) requested TRP, for “it is never too late to live trauma-free.”
Gender:
44 males and 56 females
Race:
Minorities (African American/Hispanic): 26
Caucasian: 74
Professionally, these individuals reflect the spectrum of those who might acknowledge having PTSD-related symptoms:
Veterans (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force): …………………………………………….……………30
Active Duty Military: ……………………………………………………………………………..……..4
First Respondents (Law Enforcement/Firefighter/Medical Care): ……………………………..……17
Law Enforcement: ……………………………….…………………………………7
Firefighters: …………………………………………………………………………6
Medical: ……………………………………………………………………….……4
Mental Health providers (counselors): …………………………………………………….…..19
Other (retail sales, technicians, educators, or underemployed): ……………………….……30
100 total
In this sample, we also included a cross-section of individuals whose jobs were not viewed as purposely exposed to trauma-related activities (like retail sales, technicians, and/or administrators).
At least 26 professionals indicated stability and commitment to established roles, with 16 to 45 years in the current profession. The majority (65%) of them had worked in current jobs between 1 and 15 years.
The effectiveness of TRP in reducing the acuity of PTSD-related symptoms, as reported via PSSI-5 (self-rated) symptoms, is as follows. No one paid for these TRP interventions; most participants (51) engaged in 1-2 sessions; one person requested 4 sessions, none requested more than 4 sessions. The PSSI-5 is a 24-questions semi-structured interview to assess the acuity of PTSD-related symptoms experienced within the past 30 days. Its total score is based on the frequency that each symptom is reported. Based on DSM-5 criteria, a diagnosis determination is based on the severity of such score: the higher the symptoms, the worse one feels. Clinical interventions aim to lower the acuity of symptoms, reflected in the individual’s self-reported PSSI-5 scores. In this sample, pre-intervention PSSI-5 scores ranged from 20 to 78, moderate to severe, with the majority (86%) of reports falling between 31 to 78 scores. Post-intervention, 100% (N=100) of the reported scores were between 0 and 8, which indicates a clinically significant change in trauma-related symptomatology.
Specifically, regarding Law Enforcement Officers, with an average age of 39 years old, their commitment to this profession’s current role varied from 8 to 18 yrs.
The average Period of Employment for this sample of 7 LEOs was 9.7 years. All but one of these LEO participants were males, identified work-related issues as a source of their trauma-related symptoms, and voluntarily attended up to 3 TRP sessions ( N = 5 ). The female LEO participant ( 50 years old, with 8 years in the service ) identified personal issues when requesting TRP interventions. The self-reported extent of their reported trauma-related symptoms ( average score = 43 ) ranged from 30 to 74. Upon completion, their trauma-related symptoms dropped the average score to 1.6, including 4 participants with no (0) symptoms. According to the LEOs who participated in TRP interventions, defined improvements in daily functioning were sustainable; when asked 3 weeks post-TRP interventions, ALL reported having experienced positive improvements in relationships, mood, and self-care routines. These gains were attained in under 4 TRP sessions.
Respectfully,
Martha H Corvea, Ph.D.
