How Capable of Driving are Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients under Psycho-Active Drug Therapy?

Abstract

In an open investigation design two patient groups, under neuroleptics (n = 30) and under antidepressants (n = 31), were examined three times, the third time under steady-state conditions. A matched control group (n = 32) provided the normative values. Various variables, thought to be psychologically relevant in traffic situations, were measured on two test apparatus (tracking and complex reaction time).

The result shows that the antidepressant group closely approaches the achievement of the control group on the most important variables measured. It may be concluded that psychopharmacologically well balanced depressive patients at the time of the steady-state are capable of producing results comparable to a control group with respect to traffic-relevant cognitive-psychomotor functions. The neuroleptic group, however, exhibits deviations on the same variables. In this sub-sample the primary disturbances of the underlying morbus (maintaining attention, continuous focusing ability) become conspicuous. From the medical point of view, the call for an individual clinical judgement of driving capacity by the treating physician continues to remain necessary, although the results produced offer some general decision aids.