Aeromedical management of U.S. air force aviators who attempt suicide.

BACKGROUND

Little has been published about the aeromedical management and disposition of aviators who attempt suicide, and almost no such information about military aviators exists in the open literature. The few available data are scattered and frequently anecdotal.

METHODS

The authors reviewed all case reports of fliers evaluated at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine's Aeromedical Consultation Service (ACS) between 1981-96 for possible return to flying duties after a suicide attempt, and prepared a representative case report.

RESULTS

Between 1981 and 1996, the ACS evaluated 14 trained aviators (pilots and other aircrew members, excluding flight surgeons) who had attempted suicide. Of these, 11 (79%) ultimately received a recommendation for return to flying duties.

CONCLUSIONS

In most instances the underlying stressors included failed intimate interpersonal relationships, administrative or legal problems, psychiatric disorders, death of spouse, or job conflicts. Evidence of abuse of alcoholor other substances was found in 54% of an earlier, larger data set of attempters. Some data on aircrew suicide completion were available and are reported. The top medical priorities after such attempts should be to diagnose what is wrong, and to treat it. In spite of the common assumption that a suicide attempt inevitably ends a military flying career, some attempters can return to safe and effective flying duty after appropriate psychotherapy. If the flier regains physical and mental health and maintains them for at least 6 mo after treatment, then that flier may be evaluated by an outside aeromedical psychiatric consultant such as the ACS (to avoid transference issues between flier and therapist) for possible return to flying duties. Waiver action should be based on the underlying psychiatric diagnosis, not the suicidal attempt itself. Follow-up may be accomplished through periodic mental health evaluations in conjunction with routine physical examination procedures. Issues involving substance abuse and security clearances must be handled through the appropriate channels.