Aviation mental disorders – An in-flight case of mania

Abstract

Introduction

Due to recent aviation accidents, like German Wings flight 9525, aviation related mental health disorders have recently received much attention. Several psychological disorders have been associated with aviation ever since its beginning, both in passengers and aviation professionals. A clinical case is revised of a 33 years old air hostess, without previous psychiatric history, who was admitted twice in a manic state, and a third time abroad in Nice, France, after prolonged sleep privation due to consecutive transatlantic flights.

Objectives

Scientific revision of psychological disorders in passengers (flight related psychological stress, flight phobia, post-traumatic stress disorders after plane crashes…), aviation professionals (mood changes, sexual function disorders, jet lag, sleep disorders), ground staff, and populations living within close distance to airports (burnout, circadian rhythms disorders due to high noise levels…).

Methods

Research in Pubmed, Medscape, scientific literature and other publications, with the following research terms: aviation related mental health disorders, flight related psychological disorders, flight phobia, aerophobia, aviophobia, flight related anxiety, flight related mood disorders, flight induced mania, psychological stress and air travel; articles in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

Results

Fifty-eight articles, one book and four publications were considered relevant; the case of the patient is thoroughly described with data retrieved from the clinical file.

Conclusions

Several important issues concerning both mental and physical health are highlighted by this clinical case, yet, surprisingly, scientific knowledge has progressed at a rather slow pace and mental health professionals have not given much attention to this issue.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.