TY - JOUR
T1 - An explorative approach to understanding individual differences in driving performance and neurocognition in long-term benzodiazepine users
AU - Vinckenbosch, Frederick R J
AU - Vermeeren, Annemiek
AU - Vuurman, Eric F P M
AU - van der Sluiszen, Nick N J J M
AU - Verster, Joris C
AU - van de Loo, Aurora J A E
AU - van Dijken, Joke H
AU - Veldstra, Janet L
AU - Brookhuis, Karel A
AU - De Waard, Dick
AU - Ramaekers, Johannes G
N1 - © 2021 The Authors. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Previous research reported cognitive and psychomotor impairments in long-term users of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs). This article explores the role of acute intoxication and clinical complaints.METHODS: Neurocognitive and on-road driving performance of 19 long-term (≥6 months) regular (≥twice weekly) BZRA users with estimated plasma concentrations, based on self-reported use, exceeding the therapeutic threshold (CBZRA +), and 31 long-term regular BZRA users below (CBZRA -), was compared to that of 76 controls.RESULTS: BZRA users performed worse on tasks of response speed, processing speed, and sustained attention. Age, but not CBZRA or self-reported clinical complaints, was a significant covariate. Road-tracking performance was explained by CBZRA only. The CBZRA + group exhibited increased mean standard deviation of lateral position comparable to that at blood-alcohol concentrations of 0.5 g/L.CONCLUSIONS: Functional impairments in long-term BZRA users are not attributable to self-reported clinical complaints or estimated BZRA concentrations, except for road-tracking, which was impaired in CBZRA + users. Limitations to address are the lack of assessment of objective clinical complaints, acute task related stress, and actual BZRA plasma concentrations. In conclusion, the results confirm previous findings that demonstrate inferior performance across several psychomotor and neurocognitive domains in long-term BZRA users.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Previous research reported cognitive and psychomotor impairments in long-term users of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs). This article explores the role of acute intoxication and clinical complaints.METHODS: Neurocognitive and on-road driving performance of 19 long-term (≥6 months) regular (≥twice weekly) BZRA users with estimated plasma concentrations, based on self-reported use, exceeding the therapeutic threshold (CBZRA +), and 31 long-term regular BZRA users below (CBZRA -), was compared to that of 76 controls.RESULTS: BZRA users performed worse on tasks of response speed, processing speed, and sustained attention. Age, but not CBZRA or self-reported clinical complaints, was a significant covariate. Road-tracking performance was explained by CBZRA only. The CBZRA + group exhibited increased mean standard deviation of lateral position comparable to that at blood-alcohol concentrations of 0.5 g/L.CONCLUSIONS: Functional impairments in long-term BZRA users are not attributable to self-reported clinical complaints or estimated BZRA concentrations, except for road-tracking, which was impaired in CBZRA + users. Limitations to address are the lack of assessment of objective clinical complaints, acute task related stress, and actual BZRA plasma concentrations. In conclusion, the results confirm previous findings that demonstrate inferior performance across several psychomotor and neurocognitive domains in long-term BZRA users.
KW - benzodiazepine receptor agonists
KW - benzodiazepines
KW - long-term use
KW - neurocognition
KW - on-road driving
KW - psychomotor functioning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100591703&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hup.2778
DO - 10.1002/hup.2778
M3 - Article
C2 - 33547849
SN - 0885-6222
VL - 36
JO - Human Psychopharmacology
JF - Human Psychopharmacology
IS - 4
M1 - e2778
ER -