PhD Study : Prevalance and predictors of ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD in the UK Fire Service

Summary

Firefighters are continually tasked to incidents where they are likely to experience scenes that place them at a higher risk of developing psychological disorders related to stress. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis showed that emergency service workers are at a greater risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population and continued exposure to stressful experiences at work increase the likelihood of developing PTSD (Milligan-Saville et al., 2018). There is also a lot of variation in the availability of psychological support that is available to fire fighters at an organisational level, and there are different psychological explanations that have tried to describe the factors that facilitate or hinder help-seeking (Kim et al, 2018). To date, the assessment of PTSD in firefighters has been based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Recently, a new formulation of PTSD was adopted by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

This new formulation of PTSD also included a ‘sibling’ disorder, Complex PTSD (CPTSD). CPTSD has all the core symptoms of PTSD but also includes clusters of symptoms representing ‘disturbances in self-organization' (DSO). These disturbances include affective dysregulation, negative self-concept and disturbed relationships. The DSO symptom clusters are intended to capture the pervasive psychological disturbances that typically arise following exposure to multiple and repeated traumas.

To date there has been no assessment of PTSD and CPTSD in firefighters. This project aims to

(1) assess the level of ICD-11 posttraumatic stress severity in a large sample of UK fire fighters,

(2) describe the rates and frequency of exposure to different stressful work-related events,

(3) estimate the relationship between stress exposure and posttraumatic stress severity, and determine if this is moderated by employment related factors (e.g. length of service, previous experiences etc),

(4) evaluate the provision and up-take of mental health support services, and determine how these vary across UK brigades, and

(5) assess whether posttraumatic stress severity differs depending on provision and up-take of mental health support services.

This project will use data from a large survey of UK fire fighters (N=1200) that was collected by John Langtry OBE, an ex-fire fighter who started this study but passed away before the project could be completed. It will be expected that that the successful candidate will also work closely with the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade Union to ensure that the findings are used to improve the psychological well-being of fire fighters.

Kim, J. E., Dager, S. R., Jeong, H. S., Ma, J., Park, S., Kim, J., ... & Cho, H. B. (2018). Firefighters, posttraumatic stress disorder, and barriers to treatment: Results from a nationwide total population survey. PloS one, 13(1), e0190630.

Milligan-Saville, J., Choi, I., Deady, M., Scott, P., Tan, L., Calvo, R. A., ... & Harvey, S. B. (2018). The impact of trauma exposure on the development of PTSD and psychological distress in a volunteer fire service. Psychiatry research, 270, 1110-1115.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Institute of Mental Health Sciences