1. Mental illness and road safety.
- Author
-
de Las Cuevas Castresana C and Sanz Alvarez E
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychomotor Performance, Young Adult, Automobile Driving, Mental Disorders drug therapy
- Abstract
Introduction: Psychiatric disorders, either due to their psychopathology or the drug treatments required, may lead to changes in perception, information processing and integration, and psychomotor activity which may disturb and/or interfere with the ability to drive safely., Method: This study assesses competence to drive in a sample of psychiatric outpatients, with a driver's license, who drove regularly. This ability was assessed with the accredited LNDETER 100 battery, an electronic assessment unit measurement, in different clinical situations., Results: Only 24 of the 120 patients passed the four tests required to obtain or renew a driver's license, and 80% failed in at least one of the required tests. None of the patients studied had notified the traffic authorities or the examination centers that they had a psychiatric condition that could affect safe driving. No patient stopped driving, although 10% of them admitted that their ability to drive was somewhat deteriorated., Conclusions: Psychiatric patients with altered psychomotor performance should be a concern for psychiatrists and general practitioners regarding their competence to drive vehicles. Clinical, ethical and legal aspects of our findings are discussed.
- Published
- 2009