A Feasibility Study Examining the Efficacy of Sensory Strategies Education (SENSE) for Treating Posttraumatic Stress Injuries in Public Safety Personnel

Public safety personnel (PSP) (e.g., firefighters, police officers, paramedics)—face a higher risk of developing posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs) due to repeated exposure to traumatic events in their work. These injuries can seriously affect daily life, making it harder to maintain relationships, employment productivity, financial security, and overall well-being. A common challenge for people with PTSIs is difficulty managing their body’s response to stress. This can present as hyperarousal (e.g., anxiety, racing heart) or hypoarousal (e.g., feeling numb, or shut down). These reactions can make it hard to participate in traditional therapies that require concentration and emotional engagement. This pilot study will test the effectiveness of Sensory Strategies Education for PTSIs (SENSE-PTSI), a five-week educational program designed to help people better understand and manage these physical and emotional responses. The program provides tools and information to help individuals tolerate a broader range of sensations and function more effectively in daily life. Participants will be randomly assigned to the SENSE-PTSI group or a waitlist group. We will compare PTSD symptoms and quality of life before and after the program. We predict those in the SENSE-PTSI group will show greater improvement, supporting this as a useful, efficient option for PSP with PTSIs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Margaret McKinnon

Student:

Partner:

Homewood Research Institute

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McMaster University

Program: