Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Fatal Accidents in Aviation Medicine

Laukkala, Tanja; Bor, Robert; Budowle, Bruce; Sajantila, Antti; Navathe, Pooshan; Sainio, Markku; Vuorio, Alpo

doi:10.3357/amhp.4919.2017

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…In conclusion, there is not yet statistical evidence that mild A-ADHD places navy divers at significantly greater risk for adverse underwater events. The screening for severe forms of A-ADHD during initial medical assessment is recommended (Laukkala et al, 2017), as is further research to determine whether divers with A-ADHD is at greater risk for adverse underwater events.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations Between Adverse Underwater Events and ADHD Diagnosis Among Military Divers

Wijk

Meintjes

2019

J Atten Disord

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Objective: Adult ADHD (A-ADHD) has been associated with an increased risk of accidents and workplace injuries. ADHD within professional diving may have major potential occupational health and safety implications, as accidents underwater may have severe consequences. The study investigated any association of increased risk for adverse underwater incidents with an ADHD diagnosis. Method: This analysis used retrospective records from 156 navy divers and computed an odds ratio using cases of ADHD and cases of underwater accidents. Results: Although the odds ratio was increased, it failed to reach significance. Conclusion: We do not yet have statistical evidence suggesting that the risk for adverse underwater events is significantly increased among the ADHD group in this sample of navy divers. Sufficiently powered studies are required to further address the potential risk of A-ADHD in working divers.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations Between Adverse Underwater Events and ADHD Diagnosis Among Military Divers

Wijk

Meintjes

2019

J Atten Disord

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“…Our cases did not encompass disorders of recent interest, such as COVID-19 pandemic effects, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit disorder, obstructive sleep disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, the substance use endemic, and autistic spectrum syndromes (Chaturvedi et al, 2016; Gorlich and Stadelmann, 2020; Laukkala et al, 2017). However, we have contributed novel “aviation characteristics” and a 10-year follow-up to an intensive description of 30 aviation psychiatry patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Orientation to Aviation Psychiatry

Westermeyer

Puram

2022

J Nerv Ment Dis

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This report orients general psychiatrists to assessment and care for “safety sensitive” aviation workers. Our case study of 30 sequential aviation patients consists of demographic, clinical, and aviation characteristics plus a 10-year follow-up. Relatively few pilots and other aviation workers self-identified their psychiatric condition. Aviation outcomes associated with psychiatric disorder included personnel injury and/or aircraft damage (three cases), imminent risk without injury or damage (nine cases), impaired aviation functioning without imminent risk (15 cases), and neither risk nor psychiatric disorder or impairment (three cases). Mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders comprised the most common diagnoses. Ten years later, 23 patients were employed (21 in aviation); seven were disabled or deceased. General psychiatrists will find aviation cases clinically familiar but requiring added evaluation for aviation safety and potential interaction with the Federal Aviation Agency and airline supervisors.

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“…In the general population suicide studies, the proportion of depression is generally higher. Selections to pilot schools favor physically and psychologically fit and resilient individuals, and several long-term psychiatric disorders are not compatible with flying duties [ 5 , 6 , 37 , 38 ]. The Aerospace Medical Association Working group [ 39 ] has suggested that more attention should be given to less serious and more common mental health issues and conditions during the aeromedical assessment of pilots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Copycats in Pilot Aircraft-Assisted Suicides after the Germanwings Incident

Laukkala¹,

Vuorio

Bor

et al. 2018

IJERPH

Self Cite

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Aircraft-assisted pilot suicide is a rare but serious phenomenon. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in pilot aircraft-assisted suicide risks, i.e., a copycat effect, in the U.S. and Germany after the Germanwings 2015 incident in the French Alps. Aircraft-assisted pilot suicides were searched in the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident investigation database and in the German Bundestelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU) Reports of Investigation database five years before and two years after the deliberate crash of the Germanwings flight into the French Alps in 2015. The relative risk (RR) of the aircraft-assisted pilot suicides was calculated. Two years after the incident, three out of 454 (0.66%) fatal incidents were aircraft-assisted suicides compared with six out of 1292 (0.46%) in the prior five years in the NTSB database. There were no aircraft-assisted pilot suicides in the German database during the two years after or five years prior to the Germanwings crash. The relative aircraft-assisted pilot suicide risk for the U.S. was 1.4 (95% CI 0.3–4.2) which was not statistically significant. Six of the pilots who died by suicide had told someone of their suicidal intentions. We consider changes in the rate to be within a normal variation. Responsible media coverage of aircraft incidents is important due to the large amount of publicity that these events attract.

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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Fatal Accidents in Aviation Medicine

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Associations Between Adverse Underwater Events and ADHD Diagnosis Among Military Divers

Associations Between Adverse Underwater Events and ADHD Diagnosis Among Military Divers

An Orientation to Aviation Psychiatry

Copycats in Pilot Aircraft-Assisted Suicides after the Germanwings Incident

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