Requiring computerized neurocognitive assessment of pilots being treated with antidepressant medication

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the need for neurocognitive assessment of pilots prior to return to flight status on antidepressant medication. At present the FAA and U.S. military are considering allowing pilots to fly while receiving maintenance dose antidepressant therapy for treatment of major depression. The safe operation of any aircraft requires unimpaired cognitive function. It has been shown that both major depression and the medications used to treat it can impair cognitive function. At present the FAA accepts the CogScreen AE as an approved tool to screen pilots for normal cognitive function. This project makes the case for requiring a computerized neurocognitive assessment as a required step in the psychiatric screening of pilots being returned to flight status on antidepressant medication.