Psychiatric Behavior Disorders at an International Airport

Abstract

During a seven-year period 49 individuals were brought by police to the County Hospital for psychiatric observation from nearby San Francisco International Airport. All of these individuals were severely disturbed. Generally they were acting out, psychotic individuals characterized by paranoia, anxiety, and euphoria. Their illnesses, probably began before they went to the airport and did not occur as a result of flight or anticipation of flight. Twenty-two (44%) of these patients had only brief treatment at the County Hospital and 27 (56%) were sent to another hospital. Most of the latter were soon ready for release to the community. The evidence suggests that the best public health approach to these psychiatric behavior disorders is by detection and management at the airport rather than attempts at prevention.