scholarly journals Driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long‐term users of sedating antidepressants

Author(s):  
Nick N.J.J.M. van der Sluiszen ◽  
Annemiek Vermeeren ◽  
Joke H. van Dijken ◽  
Aurora J.A.E. van de Loo ◽  
Janet L. Veldstra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S50-S51 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ramaekers

Depression is a mental disorder that is likely to affect daily functions, including driving ability. However, driving performance of depressed patients remains poorly investigated. We will present 2 studies designed to assess driving performance of patients receiving long-term antidepressant treatment. The first study compared driving performance of untreated depressed patients, depressed patients receiving SSRI or SNRI treatment for 6–52 weeks and matched healthy controls. The second study compared driving performance of long-term users of sedative antidepressants to that of matched healthy controls. A standardized on-the-road driving test was used to assess standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), a measure of weaving. In the first study, mean SDLP of untreated and treated patients were significantly higher as compared to SDLP of matched controls. Driving impairment in the treated group was significantly less as compared to the untreated group. SDLP was positively correlated to severity of depression across both groups of patients. In the second study, SDLP of patients receiving sedative antidepressants (e.g. mirtazapine) during 0,5–3 yrs was significantly higher as compared to matched controls. Driving performance of patients receiving sedative antidepressants for more than 3 yrs did not differ from matched controls. Severity of depression in these patients groups was low. It is concluded that symptoms of depression are a major cause of driving impairment. Reductions in severity of depression through antidepressant treatment reduce severity of driving impairment. Sedative antidepressants such as mirtazapine however can still induce driving impairment in patients with remission for up to 3 yrs of use.Disclosure of interestThe work presented was funded by the Dutch ministry of Infrastructure and transport and the European Committee.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick N.J.J.M. Sluiszen ◽  
Annemiek Vermeeren ◽  
Joris C. Verster ◽  
Aurora J.A.E. Loo ◽  
Joke H. Dijken ◽  
...  

1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.-O. Haraldsson ◽  
C. Carenfelt ◽  
M. Lysdahl ◽  
J. Tornros

ORL ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per-Olle Haraldsson ◽  
Christer Carenfelt ◽  
Hans E. Persson ◽  
Charlotte Sachs ◽  
Jan Törnros

Author(s):  
Frederick R. J. Vinckenbosch ◽  
Annemiek Vermeeren ◽  
Eric F. P. M. Vuurman ◽  
Nick N. J. J. M. van der Sluiszen ◽  
Joris C. Verster ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (05) ◽  
pp. 182-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick van der Sluiszen ◽  
Marleen Wingen ◽  
Annemiek Vermeeren ◽  
Frederick Vinckenbosch ◽  
Stefan Jongen ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Depression is a mental disorder likely to affect everyday functions. The present study aimed to assess actual driving performance of depressed patients who were without specific antidepressant treatment or received long-term antidepressant treatment. Methods A standardized on-the-road driving test was used to assess standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP) in 3 patient groups receiving either no antidepressant treatment (with or without benzodiazepine medication) or treatment with selective serotonin/noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors for a period of 6–52 weeks. Severity of depression was assessed using Beck’s Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The performance of patient groups was compared to healthy controls. Results The mean SDLP of untreated and treated patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls. Driving impairment in the long-term treated group was significantly less than in the untreated groups. SDLP was positively correlated to severity of depression across all groups. Discussion It is concluded that symptoms of depression are a major cause of driving impairment. Reductions in severity of depression through antidepressant treatment reduce severity of driving impairment.


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