Mental health concerns

Not surprisingly, the FAA pays a lot of attention to any applicant for medical certification who discloses a history of behavioral health challenges. Visits to health professionals for treatment and/or a “yes” response to item 18m on the MedXpress 8500-8 medical application, “Mental disorders of any sort: depression, anxiety, etc.,” will require historical medical records regarding symptoms and or treatment of a mental health condition. For conditions that fall in the “Issue” category of the “AME Disposition Table for Anxiety, Depression, and Related Conditions,” you will need to provide the AME with the appropriate medical records for the diagnosis. For situational depression, the FAA also allows the AME to office-issue if you provide the results of a favorable evaluation with your treating health care provider.

The FAA also will consider appropriate management of symptoms with nine specific SSRI, NDRI, and SNRI antidepressants. The pathway to a special issuance for depression takes time and patience, but in many cases, it will pay off with the issuance of a time-limited authorization for special issuance. When the medical is issued with the authorization, the FAA letter will specify what is required annually to keep the medical in force, so file the letter in a safe place so you will provide the FAA with the required information at next renewal. Gary Crump is the director of medical certification in the AOPA Pilot Information Center.

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