Psychobiological Aspects of Panic in SCBA AND SCUBA

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis review focuses on a series of survey and experimental investigations, led by Professor William P. Morgan, designed to examine the role of panic and anxiety in the etiology of diving-related accidents and deaths. A significant proportion of scuba fatalities have been attributed to panicking while submerged, but these estimates should be considered conservative at best. Morgan's work has demonstrated that most divers report experiencing panic or near-panic incidents at some point in their diving careers and that the phenomenon is not limited to novice or inexperienced divers. Trait anxiety has proven to be a reliable predictor of those individuals prone to panic behavior while wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus, both above and underneath water. Additional investigations have suggested that environmental influences, such as water temperature and thermal apparel, could also be critical factors in the development of panic while diving. Employing a psychobiological perspective, Morgan's research has made an impressive and indelible contribution to the future safety of scuba divers and to the field of sport psychology.