Antidepressants and Driving Ability: Results from a Clinical Study

This article reports on a study that evaluated the effects of antidepressant monotherapy on psychomotor functions related to car-driving skills in depressive patients in a routine clinical setting. The authors note that psychomotor disturbances can frequently be found in depressed patients and may have an important influence on the ability to drive. Inpatients (N = 100) who were diagnosed with major depressive disorder were tested under steady-state plasma level conditions prior to being discharged to out-patient treatment. The study ran from January 2004 through March 2005. The authors collected data measuring visual perception, reaction time, selective attention, vigilance, and stress tolerance. Psychopathologic symptoms were rated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Before discharge to outpatient treatment, 24% of the patients tested were without clinically relevant psychomotor disturbances. In 60% of the cases, mild to moderate impairments could be seen, and about 16% of the patients were considered as severely impaired in psychomotor functions related to car-driving abilities. Data show that patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or the noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA) mirtazapine had an altogether better test performance in comparison with patients receiving tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Differences were most pronounced in measures of reactivity, stress tolerance, and selective attention. Among the newer antidepressants, the authors found an advantage for patients treated with mirtazapine, especially in tasks with high multi-channel perception and output demands. The authors conclude that approximately 16% of depressive patients discharged from hospital to outpatient treatment must be considered unfit to drive. In 60% of the cases, patients performed at a questionable level of fitness for driving; the authors recommend counseling these patients individually, taking into account compensational factors.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01606689
• Authors:
  • Brunnauer, Alexander
  • Laux, Gerd
  • Geiger, Elisabeth
  • Soyka, Michael
  • Moller, Hans-Jurgen
• Publication Date: 2006-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 1776-1781
• Serial:
  • Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
  • Volume: 67
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Physicians Postgraduate Press, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0160-6689
  • Serial URL: http://www.psychiatrist.com/default2.asp

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abilities; Antidepressants; Attention; Attention lapses; Depression (Mental condition); Driving; Driving cessation; Drug effects; Highway safety; Motor skills; Reaction time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Sedation
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01080416
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 2007 6:39AM