The emotional consequences of ejection, rescue and rehabilitation in Royal Air Force aircrew.
Retrospective questionnaire information was sought from in 175 Royal Air Force officers who had survived ejection from an aircraft and 88% replied. A profile of risk factors, both objective and subjective, was found in the 40% who subsequently experienced prolonged emotional disturbances. Confidential counselling of ejection survivors should therefore be routine. Consultation between involved medical staff and a Service psychiatrist can increase awareness that surviving aircrew may not be as composed and unaffected as they seem, while appropriate counselling can reduce prolonged emotional morbidity.
D000060:Accidents, Aviation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D003376:Counseling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies