Mental health in F-111 maintenance workers: the study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP) general health and medical study.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to contrast mood disorder symptoms in F-111 aircraft Deseal/Reseal maintenance personnel with appropriate comparisons.


METHODS
Participants completed a comprehensive health assessment, including measures of mood disorder, self-reported mood symptom questionnaire items, and review of anxiolytic and depression medication. Multiple logistic regression was conducted for each outcome using exposure group and potential confounders as explanatory variables.


RESULTS
There was high agreement between self-reported mood disturbance and objective tests. The exposed group was more likely to self-report previous diagnoses of depression/anxiety, had higher use of antidepressant medications, and had increased risk of diagnosis of depression/anxiety. Results were consistently strong against both comparison groups, with the exposed more likely to have mental distress and social dysfunction when compared with the Australian population.


CONCLUSIONS
There is robust evidence for an association between F-111 Deseal/Reseal exposure and impaired mental health.
Attia
John R
JR
Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
D'Este
Catherine
C
Schofield
Peter W
PW
Brown
Anthony M
AM
Gibson
Richard
R
Tavener
Meredith
M
Horsley
Keith
K
Harrex
Warren
W
Ross
James
J
D000401:Aircraft; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D020958:Australian Capital Territory; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005579:Fossil Fuels / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008283:Maintenance; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005579:Fossil Fuels