Neuropsychological exponents for the driving ability in remitted bipolar patients

Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with cognitive deficits regardless of the phase of the disease. Medications used in treatment are an additional factor that may affect cognitive performance. Poor cognitive performance can significantly affect a patient's ability to drive.

This study aims to explore cognitive functions relevant for safe driving in the group of remitted bipolar patients.

Patients with BD in remission (n = 33) and healthy volunteers (n = 32) were included. Selected psychometric tests for drivers were carried out using computer software: called Specialistic Diagnostic Platform (SPD): The Cross-over Test (COT) version with free tempo (COT-F) and tempo of 50 tasks per minute (COT-50) and the Signal Test (ST). Moreover, the following neuropsychological tests were used: Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT) part A and B, and Trail Making Test (TMT) version A and B.

In comparison with healthy controls bipolar patients in remission had poorer outcomes for some cognitive parameters and longer reaction times in both tests for drivers and neuropsychological tests. Additionally, we found a significant correlation between the time of performance of neuropsychological tests and the time of psychometric tests for drivers.

Patients with BD performed worse in several cognitive domains assessed by tests for drivers and neuropsychological tasks. These deficits can affect the speed of the patient's motor reactions while driving.