What must the psychiatric evaluation report include? At a minimum:
A review of all available records, including academic records, records of prior psychiatric hospitalizations, and records of periods of observation or treatment (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, counselor, or neuropsychologist treatment notes). Records must be in sufficient detail to permit a clear evaluation of the nature and extent of any previous mental disorders.
A thorough clinical interview to include a detailed history regarding: psychosocial or developmental problems; academic and employment performance; legal issues; substance use/abuse (including treatment and quality of recovery); aviation background and experience; medical conditions, and all medication use; and behavioral observations during the interview.
A mental status examination.
An integrated summary of findings with an explicit diagnostic statement, and the psychiatrist's opinion(s) and recommendation(s) for treatment, medication, therapy, counseling, rehabilitation, or monitoring should be explicitly stated. Opinions regarding clinically or aeromedically significant findings and the potential impact on aviation safety must be consistent with the Federal Aviation Regulations.
What must be submitted by the psychiatrist? The psychiatrist's comprehensive and detailed report, as noted above, plus copies of supporting documentation. Recommendations should be strictly limited to the psychiatrist's area of expertise. Psychiatrists with questions are encouraged to call Charles Chesanow, D.O., FAA Chief Psychiatrist, at (202) 267-3767.
THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
Who may perform a neuropsychological evaluation? Neuropsychological evaluations must be conducted by a neuropsychologist who is included on the provider list, accessed through the following link: See FAA Neuropsychologist List (PDF).
What must the neuropsychological evaluation report include? At a minimum:
A review of all available records, including academic records, records of prior psychiatric hospitalizations, and records of periods of observation or treatment (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist, or pediatric neuropsychiatrist treatment notes). Records must be in sufficient detail to permit a clear evaluation of the nature and extent of any previous mental disorders.
A thorough clinical interview to include a detailed history regarding: psychosocial or developmental problems; academic and employment performance; legal issues; substance use/abuse (including treatment and quality of recovery); aviation background and experience; medical conditions, and all medication use; and behavioral observations during the interview and testing.
A mental status examination.
Interpretation of a full battery of neuropsychological and psychological tests including but not limited to the core test battery (specified below).
An integrated summary of findings with an explicit diagnostic statement, and the neuropsychologist's opinion(s) and recommendation(s) regarding clinically or aeromedically significant findings and the potential impact on aviation safety consistent with the Federal Aviation Regulations.
What is required in the core test battery? The core test battery listed below provides a standardized basis for the FAA's review of cases, and must include:
CogScreen-Aeromedical Edition (CogScreen-AE)
The complete Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (Processing Speed and Working Memory Indexes must be scored)
Trail Making Test, Parts A and B (Reitan Trails A & B should be used since aviation norms are available for the original Reitan Trails A & B, but not for similar tests [e.g., Color Trails; Trails from Kaplan-Delis Executive Function, etc.])
Executive function tests to include:
Category Test or Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and
Stroop Color-Word Test
Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)
A continuous performance test (i.e., Test of Variables of Attention [TOVA], or Conners' Continuous Performance Test [CPT-II], or Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test [IVA+]), or Gordon Diagnostic System [GDS].
Test of verbal memory (WMS-IV subtests, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, or California Verbal Learning Test-II)
Test of visual memory (WMS-IV subtests, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised, or Rey Complex Figure Test)
Tests of Language including Boston Naming Test and Verbal Fluency (COWAT and a semantic fluency task)
Psychomotor testing including Finger Tapping and Grooved Pegboard or Purdue Pegboard
Personality testing, to include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2)
(The MMPI-2-RF is not an approved substitute. All scales, subscales, content, and supplementary scales must be scored and provided. Computer scoring is required. Abbreviated administrations are not acceptable.)
NOTES: (1) All tests administered must be the most current edition of the test unless specified otherwise; (2) At the discretion of the examiner, additional tests may be clinically necessary to assure a complete assessment.
What must be submitted? The neuropsychologist's report as noted above, plus the supporting documentation below:
Copies of all computer score reports (e.g., CogScreen-AE score report, Pearson MMPI-2 Extended Score Report, TOVA, CPT-II or IVA+ Report).
An appended score summary sheet that includes all scores for all tests administered. When available, pilot norms must be used. If pilot norms are not available for a particular test, then the normative comparison group (e.g., general population, age/education-corrected) must be specified. Also, when available, percentile scores must be included.
Recommendations should be strictly limited to the psychologist's area of expertise. Psychologists with questions are encouraged to call Chris Front, Psy.D, FAA Psychologist, at (202) 267-3767.
What else does the psychologist need to know?
The FAA will not proceed with a review of the test findings without the above data.
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...DA_Initial.pdf
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...tification.pdf
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...e_prot/saspec/