Driving impairment in depressed patients receiving long-term antidepressant treatment

Depression is a common mental disorder with cognitive deficits, but little information is available on the effects of antidepressant treatment on driving performance in depressed patients.

Assessing actual driving performance and cognition of depressed patients receiving long-term antidepressant treatment.

Performance was assessed in depressed patients receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) treatment for 6-52 weeks and in matched healthy controls by means of two standardised on-the-road driving tests and laboratory tests of cognition.

Data showed poorer driving performance as indicated by a higher standard deviation of lateral position or 'weaving motion' in medicated patients relative to controls. Time to speed adaptation and critical flicker fusion threshold were also impaired in medicated patients. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores in medicated patients were significantly higher as compared to that of controls. No other significant results between the two groups were demonstrated on the variables of the driving tests and laboratory tests of cognition.

The depressed patients receiving long-term treatment with SSRI- and SNRI-type antidepressants show impaired driving performance. This impairment in driving performance can probably be attributed to residual depressive symptoms instead of the antidepressant treatment.