Depression and flying (again)

[Byron]

I've read some of the other threads on this subject but wanted to ask another more specific question:

Does anybody know whether stress-induced depression, severe enough to need treatment with anti-depresssants and electric shock treatment is an automatic bar to holding Class 1 or 2 medical certificates, even if there has been complete recovery and cessation of treatment? Is there a time delay or follow-up procedures?

Any advice gratefully received

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[flying doc]

I am sorry that I cannot be more specific but I have met people who have been turned down from flying due to any history whatsoever of depression.

I know for a fact that the RAF will not take aircrew with a history, and neither will BA.
This has occurred to people close to me and the best advice I can give you is to telephone the CAA Aeromedical Department and ask to talk to an Aeromedical Specialist. They will help (they are good people!) and will give you the facts, straight. You can be anonymous if you wish, and do not have to go into any more depth than you want. I did this with an eyesight question and they were very good at giving impartial advice.

I hope things work out well for you,

FD

[SID555]

Having a history of diagnosed depression is not an automatic bar to holding a medical certificate. Following the cessation of treatment, a medical certificate should be issued if it is clear that the patient has recovered fully from the illness, although a period of one third the time that medication was taken for is required to ensure that symptoms do not return - eg two months if anti-depressants were taken for six months.

The case you refer to however is much more severe as you mention ECT treatment which is usually only administered to patients who are hospitalised suffering from very severe depression. A case this severe would necessarily involve referral to a consultant psychiatrist which would mean it might be more difficult to qualify for a medical certificate following recovery and cessation of treatment.

flying doc - What you say about BA is not true - they look at each case individually and decide on the basis of that whether or not a person will be disqualified. For example, a case which is treated with medication only and does not require referral to a psychiatrist is likely not to cause a problem. I know of at least one person who flies for BA now who has been diagnosed with depression in the past.

The other problem here is that a great many people suffer from the illness at some time and many go undiagnosed and do not receive treatment. There are also a large number of pilots who have suffered from depression and kept quiet about it and gone on flying when it was not safe to do so for fear being grounded temporarily or permanently.

I have suffered from a depression which was diagnosed and required treatment with anti-depressants but was not more severe than that and was told by the CAA that this would not be a bar to holding a medical certificate in the future.

I also have one question - to what extent to Airlines or any other employers have the right to access your medical records - and do they always ask whether there has been any history of depression? Thanks for any replies.

[Streamline]

As I have said before, ALL of us will at some time experience difficulties at some time in our lives.

These situations may cause a pilot to get depressed.

Therefore it is important that the airline medical staff of any professional Airline are able to deal with such situations.

Mishandling the pilot may cause serious damage.

If it gets out of hand medication may be required, however somebody who is chronically depressed should not be allowed on the deck, hence will lose his licence.

I doubt even that someone with such a personality structure would pass any SERIOUS training scheme to become an airline pilot.




[This message has been edited by Streamline (edited 27 November 2000).]

[Byron]

I've got more information from the CAA's psychiatric specialist regarding depression and ECT. It seems that
1. ECT is not a reason for witholding a medical certificate per se - it may however act as a marker for the severity of depression
2. Severe depression may be a reason for witholding/delaying certification if
a) it is part of a manic-depressive type ill ness
b) if it is recurrent
c) if there are psychotic features (hallucinations, delusions etc)
d) if there is a family history of manic depression
e) if it is "out of the blue" ie no clear precipitating life events

As someone who has had severe depression and ECT I have now been officially told I can be granted Class 1 and 2 JAR medical certificates, I thought I would share this info.

Finally it appears that the CAA are very willing to consider each person and case on their merits - they have been very helpful to me. Hope they are for you!

[This message has been edited by Byron (edited 01 December 2000).]