ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses various pharmacological treatments and the current use in the management of mental health disorders in aviators. This is a dynamic and controversial area of modern aviation medicine. The chapter also discusses the psychopharmacology, which focuses on medication use by pilots and other individuals in direct control of aircraft. With the global expansion of civil aviation and the dawning of space tourism it is clear that individuals being treated with a wide range of psychopharmacological agents exposed to the aerospace environment. The chapter provides a basic conceptual framework that can be applied to aeromedical waivers for psychoactive medications. It also provides a broad overview of the key topics relevant to a meaningful discussion of aviation psychopharmacology. The chapter highlights the general classes of medication that are used for treatment of psychiatric conditions in aviation medicine, reviews basic psychopharmacological principals and summarizes the current aeromedical regulatory policies regarding the use of psychiatric medication.
