Selected psychiatric and environmental factors influencing the incapacity to work in the police force in relation to gender

Aims: To evaluate the causes of incapacity for continued work in the police force due to health issues and to see whether there are any differences related to gender. Materials and methods: An analysis of certification which confirmed incapacity to work and medical records of 130 patients with documented mental disorders who require more than 5 years of psychiatric treatment. The study uses a structured sociodemographic and medical questionnaire designed specifically for this purpose. Results: The mean age of the group was 48 years for women and 44 years for men. Years of service of women was mostly 21 to 25 years and more, whereas seniority of men was between 21 and 25 years. The period of treatment in psychiatric health clinics was longer for women. The most common cause for incapacity for work was chronic neurotic disorders (87.69% of women and 98.41% of men). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that in the analysed sample of police officers the main cause of incapacity to work were chronic neurotic neurasthenic disorders. Length of service as well as age of police officers at the time of retirement from the police force was higher for women. Neurotic disorders often coexisted with somatic disorders, among which were hypertension and degenerative disorders of the spine. Neurotic and neurasthenic disorders qualified the individuals to the third-level disability category owing to their service in the police force.