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Differences and similarities between PTSD and moral injury in police officers and the impact this has on treatment

Thursday, May 21, 2026
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM

Speaker

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Dr Leanne McGregor
Director/psychologist
Hummingbird Family Psychology

Differences and similarities between PTSD and moral injury in police officers and the impact this has on treatment

Abstract Document

According to the Answering the Call survey conducted by Beyond Blue (2018), first responders have 10 times higher rates of workers compensation claims than that in the entire Australian workforce. Further, first responders have higher rates of PTSD than that reported in the Australian Defence Force (ADF, Beyond Blue, 2018). First responders and in particular, police officers who suffer from PTSD have a different presentation than many, including ADF clients, who suffer from PTSD. Police officers suffer from cumulative trauma (prolonged and repeated exposure to trauma) which is generally more severe, as it mostly goes unnoticed and untreated (Thier, 2017). Most police officers do not seek treatment until their symptoms are so severe, they are barely functioning. The symptoms of PTSD and cumulative PTSD are similar, however the accumulation of the trauma combined with an often unsafe and unsupportive work environment, leads to treatment being very different from the more general PTSD (Pierce, 2018), and is a longer road to recovery. As police officers are repeatedly exposed to trauma, they often experience anger and guilt, consistent with moral injury. Moral injury has predominantly been explored in military populations, however police officers also experience moral injury (Simmons-Beauchamp & Sharpe 2022). As there is a great deal of overlap between PTSD and moral injury symptomology, moral injury is often overlooked in clinical settings. This presentation will focus on moral injury in police officers, and look at the core features and differences between PTSD and moral injury, and how this effects treatment in this population.

Biography

Leanne has been a psychologist for over 25 years. She has a PhD, awarded in Psychology in 2010, investigating the impact of divorce, interparental conflict and parenting on children. She has presented her research at both national and international conferences. Leanne has worked on numerous research projects as a research fellow at both Bond and Griffith Universities. She has also enjoyed lecturing at both universities. Leanne has worked as a clinician in an array of areas including Queensland Corrective Services (Community and Custodial), Queensland Education as a behavioural management specialist, Queensland Health in Emergency Psychiatric Services/Acute Care Team, Griffith University’s Family Interaction Program working with families involved with Queensland Child Safety Services, and in private practice. Currently, she is working as a solo practitioner with her therapy dog in private practice. Her case load is primarily police officers experiencing posttraumatic stress, moral injury, and other psychosocial stressors.
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