Psychiatric diagnoses in a group of astronaut applicants.
Between 1959 and 1987, the psychiatric evaluation of astronaut candidates evolved from a 30-h intensive examination evaluating applicants for psychopathology, and studying their performance under stress, to a 2-h clinical interview whose structure and contents were determined by the individual examiner. Evaluations done during these years applied both psychiatric (or, "select-out") criteria and psychological (or, "select-in") criteria. In an attempt to more rigorously define the psychiatric, "select-out" component, a standardized, semi-structured clinical interview was developed to identify the presence or history of psychiatric disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Ed. ("DSM-III"). A total of 117 astronaut applicants underwent this clinical interview as part of a comprehensive medical evaluation during a recent astronaut selection. Of the 117 applicants, 9 (7.7%) met DSM-III criteria for a variety of Axis I and Axis II diagnoses, including V-code diagnoses.
Santy
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Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550-2777.
Holland
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Faulk
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D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013026:Space Flight; D009626:Terminology as Topic