Psychotherapy and return to flying duties.

The medical records of a group of 112 successive cases refered for psychiatric consultation to the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine were reviewed. Fifty-eight (52%) of these were psychiatrically disqualified but felt to be amenable to psychotherapy, which was recommended. Followup contact was possible in 49 of these cases to show that 38 did, in fact, receive treatment. Of this later group, 18 were successfully returned to flying duties along with six more, who had no formal treatment beyond several consultative visits, for a total salvage rate of 49%. Psychotherapy had previously been proven to be effective under conditions of major wartime mobilization. Its use in peacetime and during limited warfare has been studied only sparsely, except in the German Air Force, and only for specific conditions in the Royal Air Force. Results of this study support the contention that psychotherapy is feasibly effective in allowing other wise disqualified fliers to return to flying duties.