The psychological health and stress of pilots in a labor dispute.

This study investigated the psychological stress and psychiatric symptomatology in a representative sample of pilots involved in a labor dispute with management. Standardized epidemiological psychometric instruments revealed that one quarter of the pilots could be labelled "psychologically at risk" showing elevated symptoms of anger-hostility, paranoia, and obsessive-compulsiveness. A certain combination of personality scores with stress reactions was found to correctly classify pilots who were healthy vs. "at risk" with 92% accuracy. Interviews with pilots revealed both general causes of stress associated with a labor dispute as well as specific and unique sources of disturbances threatening safety in the air.