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Antidepressants and Road Safety: A Forensic Toxicological Perspective Based on Observational Data and Current
Davide Filardi1,2, Francesca Vernich1, Federico Mineo1
1Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Social Security and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Antidepressant use was uncommon in drivers facing forensic evaluation. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were most frequent, but clinical assessment is vital for driving safety, especially with polysubstance use.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Psychopharmacology
- Road Safety Research
Background:
- Antidepressants can impact psychomotor skills and driving ability.
- Understanding antidepressant use in drivers is crucial for road safety.
- Forensic toxicological evaluations offer insights into drug use patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and patterns of antidepressant use among drivers undergoing forensic toxicological evaluation.
- To explore the potential implications of antidepressant use for road safety.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of 6316 drivers with license suspension for DUI.
- Classification of antidepressants into major classes (SSRIs, SNRIs, SARIs, TCAs, NDRIs, NaSSAs, MAOIs).
- Descriptive analysis of distribution patterns and co-occurring psychoactive substance use.
Main Results:
- Antidepressant use reported by 2.1% (132/6316) of drivers.
- SSRIs were the most prevalent class (44.0%), followed by SNRIs (26.5%) and SARIs (17.4%).
- 21.2% of antidepressant users tested positive for other psychoactive substances.
Conclusions:
- Antidepressant use is relatively uncommon in this forensic population.
- Clinical evaluation is essential during treatment initiation and dose changes to assess driving risk.
- Further research integrating toxicology and clinical data is needed to clarify the impact on road safety, especially with polysubstance use.
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