Pointers to diagnosis of psychiatric illness in aircrew

Diagnosis of psychiatric illnesses in aircrew is made by assessing the symptoms complained of by the patient or observed by others. Symptoms should be matched against the textbook description of psychiatric disease: if the match is good, a diagnosis of psychiatric ill health is made. Subtle questioning of patients concerning psychiatric symptoms such as smoking and alcohol is required, and facial expression and demeanor comprise important diagnostic factors. The functional neuroses and psychoses and the organic psychiatric diseases, together with personality and psychomatic disorders and drug dependence, are reviewed.