Patricia A. Santy

Pharmacologic considerations for Shuttle astronauts

Medication usage by crewmembers in the preflight and inflight mission periods is common in the Shuttle Program. The most common medical reports for which medication is used are: space motion sickness (SMS), sleeplessness, headache, and backache. A number of medications are available in the Shuttle Medical Kit to treat these problems. Currently, astronauts test all frequently used medications before mission assignment to identify potential side‐effects, problems related to performance, personal likes/dislikes, and individual therapeutic effect. However, microgravity‐induced changes in drug pharmacokinetics, in combination with multiple operational factors, may significantly alter crew‐member responses inflight. This article discusses those factors that may impact pharmacologic efficacy during Shuttle missions.

Human reproductive issues in space.

Animal studies in space or analogous environments have suggested that there may be problems in the reproductive sphere; such factors might limit mankinds ability to live and work for extended periods of time in microgravity or on non-terrestrial planetary surfaces. A review of reproductive functioning in animal species studied during space flight demonstrated that most species were affected significantly by the absence of gravity and/or the presence of radiation. These two factors induced alterations in normal reproductive functioning independently of, as well as in combination with, each other. Based on animal models, we have identified several potential problem areas regarding human reproductive physiology and functioning in the space environment. While there are no current space flight investigations, the animal studies suggest priorities for future research in human reproduction. Such studies will be critical for the successful colonization of the space frontier.

Strategies for crew selection for long duration missions

Issues surrounding psychological reactions to long duration spaceflight are discussed with respect to the definition of criteria for selecting crewmembers for such expeditions. Two broad dimensions of personality and behavior are defined - Instrumentality including achievement orientation, leadership, and ability to perform under pressure and Expressivity encompassing interpersonal sensitivity and competence. A strategy for validating techniques to select in candidates with the optimum psychological profile to perform successfully on long duration missions is described.

Teaching Clinical Psychopharmacology on an Inpatient Psychiatric Research Center

In this article we have shown how an inpatient Psychiatric Clinical Research Center has been used successfully to teach medical students and residents some basic principles of clinical psychopharmacology. Although teaching effectiveness and resident acceptance of the program have not been measured objectively (we intend to do this in the next 2 years), informal feedback about the CRC rotation has been enthusiastic. The clinical psychopharmacology curriculum in our department has been enhanced by the experience of trainees on a research unit. In the rapidly expanding area of psychopharmacology, where new drugs are continually coming on the market, the CRC provides an opportunity to demonstrate the biopsychosocial model and to explore the interface between the research and clinical aspects of psychopharmacology.

Strategies for the preflight circadian shifting of Space Shuttle crews.

In June, 1990, a workshop was put together at NASA/Johnson Space Center to address difficulties the astronauts were having in adjusting their wake and sleep schedule, both immediately before and during Space Shuttle missions. The workshop members, prominent investigators in human circadian research, developed a number of strategies by which astronauts could tackle the problem of circadian adaptation within the demanding timetable of a Space Shuttle mission. The strategies included both abrupt and gradual methods, and some approaches used artificial “very bright lights” to reset the physiologic circadian pacemaker. The strategies have since been operationally implemented on Space Shuttle flights, with good success. This is a report of the problems addressed by the workshop and its recommendations.