A new study has found that drone pilots can develop the same symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that are experienced among soldiers on the battlefield.
A team of researchers observed close to 1,000 United States Air Force drone operators and found symptoms of moderate and severe PTSD among 4.3 percent of the participants, according to FOX News. Between 10 and 18 percent of military personnel returning from deployment are diagnosed with the condition.
Wayne Chappelle, clinical psychologist and author of the study, said that while the number of drone pilots with PTSD is small, it is still important and "something that we would want to take seriously so that we make sure that the folks that are performing their job are effectively screened for this condition and get the help they [may] need."
The participants filled out questionnaires that listed 17 symptoms of PTSD, which included intrusive thoughts, recurring nightmares, difficulty concentrating and trouble falling asleep. The study found less drone operators with the condition than people in the general U.S. population who had it. Data from the American Psychiatric Association states that 8.7 percent of the general population suffers from PTSD.
Drone pilots who had worked for at least 25 months or a minimum of 51 hours per week were found to have a greater chance of experiencing PTSD symptoms than those who worked less months or fewer hours per week, Fox News reported.
Drone operators and other military personnel didn't show any "substantial differences" in the symptoms they experienced, Chappelle noted. How people process traumatic events has an impact on whether or not they will develop the symptoms, and some people can process events better than others.
It is has not been determined as to what makes a difference in how different people deal with traumatic events, but Chappelle feels that genetics and past exposure can add to the trauma.
While drone operators don't fight on the battlefield, they are still in charge of controlling aircrafts that play a role in the success of battlefield operations, "[and therefore] it is important that we maintain airmen who are healthy, who are fit and that we are able to identify those airmen that may be struggling with some kind of psychological or physical condition that could in fact impair their performance or reduce longevity," FOX News reported.
Interventions could help drone pilots deal with PTSD, and without proper attention, they might experience even worse problems.
