Posted on Oct 27, 2016
LTJG Student Naval Aviator (Sna)
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I'm gearing a school assignment towards personal interest. Do military pilots have any sort of increased susceptibility to any kind of psychological disordres? Anxiety disorders from handling all that stress?
I'm referring to disorders that come from the action of flying...meaning not from something traumatic happening while flying...resulting in PTSD.
Thanks everyone for your help
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Responses: 10
CW5 Sam R. Baker
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As a flyer, if you can refer to a helicopter pilot as such, for the last 25 years, I think the only disorder I have is the will to continue to fly over Afghanistan and Iraq after 15 years to help those who are on the ground. Seriously though, I have not seen any helicopter pilots with disorders from flying. As for the fast movers where they wear pressure suits and move at supersonic speeds and huge g forces, maybe some one will chime in. Just remember, pilots like to fly, and reporting such issues removes one from flight status. They may be out there, but who knows. Good luck finding what you seek.
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LCDR Daniel Vicario
LCDR Daniel Vicario
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I am out of the service so I am happy to discuss.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
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PO1 Cryptologic Technician (Technical)
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Very good question.....

Not pertaining to PTSD, I would say paranoia, claustrophobia, agoraphobia (since they are not in control of the aircraft, they are left at the mercy of another pilot). Need to check R&D about this. Check within medical journals that relate with pilots and disorders associated.
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LTJG Student Naval Aviator (Sna)
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I've been searching! I keep finding related topics like disorders that keep you out of a cockpit but this topic is tough to find.
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PO1 Cryptologic Technician (Technical)
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LTJG (Join to see) - What type of searches are you doing? Are you doing mostly internet/sites?

Try doing a library search using their card system. Look in the medical area/military non-fiction.
Just based on common knowledge, I would assume depression, anxiety, social discomfort just to name a few.

A few other books you can look into: "Aviation Mental Health: Psychological Implications for Air Transportation" by Todd Hubbard,

http://time.com/3770203/captain-chesley-sully-germanwings/ "Captain Sully: Pilots Need To Feel Safe Admitting Mental Illness"---article released in Time Magazine.

See if you know someone who has studied in psychology who can help associate disorders that are possible with pilots, both in and out of the military.

You are going to run into a lot of factors that lean more toward PTSD but don't focus on that; there are several other diagnosis that can be hidden under the PTSD umbrella.

Hope this helps; good luck.
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LTJG Student Naval Aviator (Sna)
LTJG (Join to see)
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good notes but you made a great point stating other diagnosis being hidden by PTSD. Thats something I never really considered before and could be an interesting topic in itself. Appreciate the help and insight!
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