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Published on: September 18, 2012
Driving behaviors among community-dwelling persons with multiple sclerosis
Maria T Schultheis1, Valerie Weisser, Kevin Manning
1Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. sg94g745@drexel.edu
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|June 2, 2009
Summary
Drivers with multiple sclerosis (MS) drive less frequently and alter their behavior as disease severity increases. Current driving assessments may not fully capture driving capacity in early MS stages.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Transportation Safety
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological disease affecting driving ability.
- Understanding how MS severity impacts driving behaviors is crucial for safety and independence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine driver behaviors and patterns in individuals with MS based on disease severity.
- To compare driving characteristics of MS drivers with those of healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Community-dwelling individuals with MS (n=66) and healthy controls (n=30) participated.
- Data included driving frequency, self-reported driving limitations, changes in driving post-diagnosis, and self-rated driving ability.
- Driving performance was assessed via a clinical behind-the-wheel evaluation.
Main Results:
- MS drivers reported driving fewer days per week than controls (P=.021).
- Higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores correlated with less frequent driving (P=.014) and increased self-limiting behaviors.
- Participants with high EDSS scores were more likely to modify driving post-diagnosis (P=.01) and fail the driving evaluation (P<.001).
Conclusions:
- Driving frequency and self-limiting behaviors in MS drivers vary with disease severity.
- The standard behind-the-wheel evaluation may lack sensitivity for detecting driving impairments in milder MS stages.
- Repeated driving assessments are recommended for individuals with progressive MS to identify difficulties effectively.
