PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH IN SPACE MEDICINE
GEORGE E. RUFF USAF (MC), and
EDWIN Z. LEVY USAF (MC)1
1 Aero Medical Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
An attempt has been made to suggest problems of space flight of interest to psychiatrists. Many psychological stresses cannot be simulated in the laboratory, and thus can be dealt with only by projecting from data now available. Since emotional hazards analagous to those likely to arise in space have been overcome on earth, we infer that space flight will impose no intolerable stress on carefully selected, trained crews.
Several aspects of exploratory studies of isolation and confinement have been selected for discussion. These suggest that meaningful structuring of experience is necessary for adaptation to drastic alterations in environment. Our conclusion is that the best qualification for a space crew member is a sound ego. His environment should offer both meaning and variety in sensory input to prevent disorganization of perception and thought.
