Flying with OCD

[jgrant]

Does OCD rule out a career in aviation, or even flying for leisure?

[aviatorrbt]

Not sure about the regs, but I do not think so depending on the case. Does this person have really bad OCD?

I know a person who is diagnosed with minor OCD with small things and it does not get in the way at all. So the question is, how advanced is it?

[Doug Taylor]

Follow up question: Have you been officially diagnosed?

[Maximillian_Jenius]

I think that if you're taking meds for OCD then might be a deal breaker. But lets wait for the doc's official word!

[My Flight Surgeon]

It all depends on the severity of the OCD. Afterall, many of have some OCD in our personalities otherwise we would not do our jobs as well. A certain amount of OCD is a good thing. There is a difference between being compulsive and being obcessed by the compulsion.

The problem arises when the OCD is severe enough to interfere with daily functioning and specifically in aviation become a safety issue. So the questions need to be 1) has this been diagnosed by a psychiatrist? 2) are yout aking medications for it? 3) how does it interfere with your daily functioning?

I would not claim that clinical diagnosis unless it were made by a psychiatrist and you met the criteria in DSM-IV-R. If you are on medications, that could be a deal breaker, depending on the medications and the length of time you have been on them. Then last, if you have difficulty getting through the day because youa re always checking and rechecking what you do that could be a safety issue.

If youhave OCD, you can supply the FAA with all of the medical records regarding your case. This will have to include a detailed report from your treating psychiatrist that discussed your diagnosis, level of functioning, etc. This will be reviewed by an FAA psychiatrist before they decide whether or not to issue a medical certificate.

[jgrant]

I have not been "officially" diagnosed, but I am seeing a psychologist who believes I have a mild to moderate case. I am taking Zoloft while I learn techiniques to deal with it. (I am aware that this is a deal breaker, but hope to not be on it for too long). I believe I have what is termed as "pure obsessive" OCD and do not have alot of outward signs of OCD (i.e. checking and rechecking) at least none that interfere with my day to day routines.

[My Flight Surgeon]

You will have to report this and submit all of your medical records related to the diagnosis to the FAA when you get your flight physical. Be aware that they want ot see all of the records and notes from the therapist - many therapists resist this but the FAA will not consider the case without ALL of the records.

Good luck.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Doug found out my extremely minor OCD this weekend and exploited it. Lol...he put a cup on a table without a coster. Then he didn't put the cup in the center of the coster/napkin. I had to correct it.

He was ah ha...got you now! Guess that I can't be a pilot!

[My Flight Surgeon]

Does it inteerfere with your ability to function?

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

Does it inteerfere with your ability to function?

Naaaaw I just like everything in order and looking neat!

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

Does it inteerfere with your ability to function?

That's an interesting point Max brings up. I saw him recenter my cup on the table, so I made fun of him a little by moving everything on the table off-center. Then another pilot (who'll remain nameless but it's not me) simply had to re-center everything again and said it kind of bothered him.

Maybe we all have it to a certian extent perhaps? Personally, dirty shoes will drive me crazy unless I'm working in the yard and I had getting my hands dirty (unless I'm gardening). But I could care less if I use a coaster or if something is off-center.

[My Flight Surgeon]

It all has to do with the degree of OCD we all have. Anyone who is a successful rpofessional has OCD to one degree or another. I guess I would use the analogy of alcohol - many of us have a glass of beer or two but when the consumption of alcohol interferes with our ability ot function, we are alcoholics. The same is true of OCD - if rechecking everything more than once and havign other rituals interferes with our ability to function on a daily basis, it goes from a personality trait to a disease.

Max wasn't that OCD at Oktoberfest

[meritflyer]

Doc, random question. Can a PhD or PysD (in psychology) diagnose OCD and have it be a legitimate diagnosis as far as the FAA is concerned or must it be a MD/DO psychiartist?

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

That's an interesting point Max brings up. I saw him recenter my cup on the table, so I made fun of him a little by moving everything on the table off-center. Then another pilot (who'll remain nameless but it's not me) simply had to re-center everything again and said it kind of bothered him.

Maybe we all have it to a certian extent perhaps? Personally, dirty shoes will drive me crazy unless I'm working in the yard and I had getting my hands dirty (unless I'm gardening). But I could care less if I use a coaster or if something is off-center.

Lol...and you had fun doing it too. But yea everyone has it but to which varying degree is what is called into question!

[aviatorrbt]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

Naaaaw I just like everything in order and looking neat!

Me too... but then again most people do!

[My Flight Surgeon]

They will probably take the evaluation of a psychologist but remember, the guy making the final decision is a psychiatrist - I would personaly opt for a psychiatrist to sign off on the diagnosis. It may be a turf issue but when you know whose turf you are on, you chose your players accordingly.

[FlyChicaga]

I agree with Doug. I think all of us have a bit of OCD in us, it is just the degree of severity. I would say that I'm pretty obsessive about order and cleanliness, but not to the extent where it will disrupt my daily activities. I just have certain ways I like things... like how I set up the cockpit in my preflight, how I iron/starch my uniform, how I pack my bags, how things are arranged in the house, where I put things in the hotel room, etc... I just find the way I like things and the way things work well, and I stick with them. I figure it keeps me orderly, neat, and efficient. For instance packing my bags and where I put things in the hotel: Some friends will just toss things around, then end up leaving things behind. I put everything in the same place when I pack, and when I'm leaving I only need to look in a few spots in the room to ensure I have everything since I usually will put it in the same spot in each different hotel on a trip. Then there is my flight bag... don't get me started!

What can I say? I like order.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by FlyChicaga

I agree with Doug. I think all of us have a bit of OCD in us, it is just the degree of severity. I would say that I'm pretty obsessive about order and cleanliness, but not to the extent where it will disrupt my daily activities. I just have certain ways I like things... like how I set up the cockpit in my preflight, how I iron/starch my uniform, how I pack my bags, how things are arranged in the house, where I put things in the hotel room, etc... I just find the way I like things and the way things work well, and I stick with them. I figure it keeps me orderly, neat, and efficient. For instance packing my bags and where I put things in the hotel: Some friends will just toss things around, then end up leaving things behind. I put everything in the same place when I pack, and when I'm leaving I only need to look in a few spots in the room to ensure I have everything since I usually will put it in the same spot in each different hotel on a trip. Then there is my flight bag... don't get me started!

What can I say? I like order.

The bigger question is. Is all that OCD or just common sense?

[FlyChicaga]

Good point!

[jgrant]

I think there are alot of misconceptions out there about OCD. Yes, I agree that everybody out there has what you might call "OCD like behaviors" (being neat and orderly seems to be popular). These are more along the lines of personality traits and some might fall into the Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder realm (different than OCD). I myself have some of these traits.

True OCD, however, has been referred to as "Brain Lock", and that is just what it feels like. For some that means checking to see that the door is locked over and over, even though they know they locked it. Others will hit a pot hole in the road and have to drive around the block several times to make sure they did not hit someone. Then there is a large percentage (some believe the largest group of OCD sufferers) of people with OCD that do not have any outward manifestations (rechecking, etc.) People with this form will get stuck on ideas that they know are ridiculous like, "what if I lose control suddenly and hurt my child", or "What if I just told my manager off while I was talking to him." Again, the OCD sufferer will know these ideas have no basis in reality but because of the OCD will keep asking, "what if?". People will ruminate for hours on end over some thing they know didn't happen but they can't be 100 percent sure that it didn't. It is going through life wanting 100 percent gurantees on everything, but we all know that isn't possible.

Just thought I would share my perspective.

[My Flight Surgeon]

These are the official diagnostic criteria. As you can see, the symptoms must significantly interfere with one’s ability to function. This is why the diagnosis should be made by a psychiatrist.

The definitive diagnostic criteria for OCD are:

• Either obsessions or compulsions:

Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3), or (4):
(1) recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
(2) the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems
(3) the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action
(4) the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposes from without as in thoughts insertion)

Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2):
(1) repetitive behaviors (e.g., handwashing, ordering, checking) or mental acts, (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
(2) the behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded events or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive

• At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive and unreasonable. NOTE: This does not apply to children.
• The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.
• If another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an Eating Disorder; hair pulling in the presence of Trichotillomania; concern with appearance in the presence Body Dysmorphic Disorder; preoccupation with drugs in the presence of a Substance Use Disorder; preoccupation with having a serious illness in the presence of a Hypochondriasis; preoccupation with sexual urges or fantasies in the presence of a Paraphilia; or guilty ruminations in the presence of Major Depressive Disorder
• The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition