Shift-work and suicide ideation among police officers

Background: This cross-sectional study assessed the association of shift work with suicide ideation among police officers. Methods: Shift work was based on daily payroll records over 5 years (41 women, 70 men). Standardized psychological measures were employed. ANOVA and Poisson regression were used to evaluate associations. Results: Among policewomen with increased depressive symptoms, prevalence of suicide ideation increased by 116% for every 10-unit increase in percentage of hours worked on day shift (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-3.71). Among policemen with higher (but not lower) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, prevalence of suicide ideation increased by 13% with every 10-unit increase in the percentage of hours worked on afternoon shift (PR = 1.13; 95% CI= 1.00-1.22). Conclusion: Prevalence of suicide ideation significantly increased among policewomen with higher depressive symptoms and increasing day shift hours, and among police-men with higher PTSD symptoms with increasing afternoon shift hours.