Acute anxiety caused by flying can be treated with anti-anxiety medication. The condition can be treated with exposure therapy, which works better when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy.

Classification

Fear of flying is a specific phobia and is classified as such in the DSM-5

Symptoms

People with fear of flying experience intense, persistent fear or anxiety when they consider flying, as well as during flying. They will avoid flying if they can, and the fear, anxiety, and avoidance cause significant distress and impair their ability to function. Take-off, bad weather, and turbulence appear to be the most anxiety provoking aspects of flying. The most extreme manifestations can include panic attacks or vomiting at the mere sight or mention of an aircraft or air travel. Around 60% of people with fear of flying report having some other anxiety disorder.

Cause

The causes of flight phobia and the mechanisms by which it is maintained were not well understood as of 2016. It is not clear if it is really one condition; it appears to be heterogenous.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is clinical. It is often difficult to determine if the specific phobia of fear of flight should be the primary diagnosis, or if fear of flying is a symptom of a generalized anxiety disorder or another anxiety disorder such as agoraphobia or claustrophobia.

Management

Acute anxiety caused by flying can be treated with anti-anxiety medication. The condition can be treated with exposure therapy, including flight simulator equipment, which works better when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy. Relaxation techniques and education about aviation safety can also be helpful in combination with other approaches. Experience flying a full city-to-city sector flight following real-life airline procedures with take-offs and landings into realistic airports, building up threshold with turbulence, with one of expert educators.

Outcomes

Studies of interventions like Education and flight simulators have reported rates of reduction in anxiety, however there is little evidence that any treatment can completely eliminate fear of flying, without repetitive flying or exposure.