Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
09-22-2006, 04:42 AM
#1
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Years ago when I was flying for Horizon a guy came to interview pilots on a volunteer basis. I asked him what he was up to and he told me that he was doing research on career induced mental illness. Apparently the job as pilot is the highest for creating obsessive compulsive disorders. It would explain the crazed antics of a few of the older pilots.
Last week I ran into a guy who I hadn't seen since flight school days and it was clear that he was well on his way to OCD. Don't forget your meds.
SkyHigh
Last week I ran into a guy who I hadn't seen since flight school days and it was clear that he was well on his way to OCD. Don't forget your meds.
SkyHigh
09-22-2006, 05:10 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,151
Skyhigh,
Lots of careers cause lots of things, from mental illness and physical injury, to divorce and alcoholism. There are also lots of bogus "studies" out there claiming lots of things. Anyone can do some half-assed research, have it printed somewhere, and call it a "study." Do you have any solid evidence to back up this claim that pilots are more susceptible to OCD? And if not, last but of course not least, why do you suppose pilots are more susceptible to OCD?
Lots of careers cause lots of things, from mental illness and physical injury, to divorce and alcoholism. There are also lots of bogus "studies" out there claiming lots of things. Anyone can do some half-assed research, have it printed somewhere, and call it a "study." Do you have any solid evidence to back up this claim that pilots are more susceptible to OCD? And if not, last but of course not least, why do you suppose pilots are more susceptible to OCD?
09-22-2006, 06:56 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: 767A (Ret)
Posts: 6,248
Confusing correlation with cause?
It may be that certain careers attract people who have specific characteristics and screen out those who do not, but the career itself is not the cause. Playing in the NBA does not make one tall. Pilots are usually task-driven, focused, and detail-oriented. To those who are not, the pejorative "OCD theory" sounds attractive and comfortable. We all tend to think that we're in the center of the behavioral "bell curve", and that it's the other guy who is abnormal.
09-22-2006, 07:16 AM
#4
Just Plane Stupid
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: Captain
Posts: 461
Do you think someone would get through an Airline Interview with OCD or signs of it?...Skyhigh do you spend your days looking for anything to grab at that will satisfy your decision to leave aviation?...From your posts I would say that you might be a candidate for OCD...Really dude, I think we should call your buds and get an "Intervention" party for ya...Because you can't let go...And what's sad is I bet you would be the first to jump at a flying gig like UPS, or FedEx...I hope the winter provides plenty of sun up your way, because I don't think I can stomach a winter of your depressing posts...lol...Maybe I have OCD because I feel compelled to sniff every B.S. post that you type...Oh No!...Skyhigh maybe right!...lol
09-22-2006, 08:23 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: FO, looking left
Posts: 1,060
It may be that certain careers attract people who have specific characteristics and screen out those who do not, but the career itself is not the cause. Playing in the NBA does not make one tall. Pilots are usually task-driven, focused, and detail-oriented. To those who are not, the pejorative "OCD theory" sounds attractive and comfortable. We all tend to think that we're in the center of the behavioral "bell curve", and that it's the other guy who is abnormal.
VERY WELL SAID. I don't need to say anything because it would just reiterate everything Tom said. WELL SAID!!!
09-22-2006, 11:00 AM
#7
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Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: BE-20, RA390
Posts: 644
frequent exposure to ORD leads to OCD
I have a OCD joke with a friend of mine because we both will push down on the oil caps on a JT15 even though we see they are closed. I think pilots develop some positive OCD traits.
Last edited by GauleyPilot; 09-22-2006 at 11:06 AM.
09-22-2006, 01:12 PM
#8
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Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: SF340
Posts: 244
I think flying does attract at risk OCD personalities. With OCD you must go through a rigid set of sequences in order to be satisfied. Isn't that what all airlines want pilots to do? Check lists, Memory items, they are all OCD positive. A mild case of the OCD is actually probably a good thing in this industry. Keeps you from getting complacent. Look at the guy who has to wash his hands 18 times after touching anything (A tad too extreme to be good). He ALWAYS washes them 18 times.
09-23-2006, 08:13 AM
#10
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Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
I don't agree with you surreal. Ask anybody that's ever spent hours making sure that their carpet fibers were all going in the same direction. In the process basically tearing their fingernails off. My cousin has a severe case and this is something he did.
However, the drug makers do have a vested intrest and I'm sure it's like ADD/HD, overdiagnosed. For every person that really does suffer from these there are probably 3 or 4 on meds that don't need to be. I've had four students in this situation in the last five months. In each case, an overbearing mom decided that because they couldn't sit still at 13 they had to take drugs to get good grades (I still can't sit still at 25). In two cases, they spent a ton on flight lessons only to have to make their kid give it up because the FAA wouldn't issue a medical. The other two have been appealing for months. All because of an over-diagnosis to sell Ritalin.
However, the drug makers do have a vested intrest and I'm sure it's like ADD/HD, overdiagnosed. For every person that really does suffer from these there are probably 3 or 4 on meds that don't need to be. I've had four students in this situation in the last five months. In each case, an overbearing mom decided that because they couldn't sit still at 13 they had to take drugs to get good grades (I still can't sit still at 25). In two cases, they spent a ton on flight lessons only to have to make their kid give it up because the FAA wouldn't issue a medical. The other two have been appealing for months. All because of an over-diagnosis to sell Ritalin.
