Causes And Manifestations Of Ptsd Among Drone Pilots

NameProfessorCourseDateCauses and Manifestations of PTSD Among Drone PilotsA 2014 research study among United States Air Force pilots identified that 4.3% of drone operators experienced symptoms indicative of PTSD, including insomnia and feelings of aggression (Chappelle et al. 483). Although this percentage is lower than military personnel who engage in direct combat, which can range from 8% to 18% (Chappelle et al. 480), this is still a significant percentage among drone pilots. As PTSD symptoms can manifest suddenly and without warning, the onset of a PTSD-related anxiety attack might compromise a mission if experienced when the mission is taking place. As such, there is a growing need to understand the causes and manifestations of PTSD among this particular group, not only in order to provide better care but also to ensure that disruptions to drone-related missions influenced by an onset of PTSD symptoms are minimized. Several interviews among drone operators conducted in subsequent studies and media reports indicate why this may be occurring. Drone operators, such as those within the United States Air Force (USAF) will often involve a copilot system, where two operators are assigned to the drone’s operation. The drone itself