Driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants

Nick N J J M van der Sluiszen; Annemiek Vermeeren; Joke H van Dijken; Aurora J A E van de Loo; Janet L Veldstra; Dick de Waard; Joris C Verster; Karel A Brookhuis; Johannes G Ramaekers

doi:10.1002/hup.2762

Driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants

Nick N J J M van der Sluiszen, Annemiek Vermeeren, Joke H van Dijken, Aurora J A E van de Loo, Janet L Veldstra, Dick de Waard, Joris C Verster, Karel A Brookhuis, Johannes G Ramaekers

Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants, in comparison to healthy controls.

METHODS: Thirty-eight long-term (>6 months) users of amitriptyline (n = 13) and mirtazapine (n = 25) were compared to 65 healthy controls. Driving performance was assessed using a 1-h standardised highway driving test in actual traffic, with road-tracking error (standard deviation of lateral position [SDLP]) being the primary measure. Secondary measures included neurocognitive tasks related to driving. Performance differences between groups were compared to those of blood alcohol concentrations of 0.5 mg/ml to determine clinical relevance.

RESULTS: Compared to controls, mean increase in SDLP of all antidepressant users was not significant, nor clinically relevant (+0.75 cm, 95% CI: -0.83 cm; +2.33 cm). However, users treated less than 3 years (n = 20) did show a significant and clinically relevant increase in SDLP (+2.05 cm). No significant effects were observed on neurocognitive tasks for any user group, although large individual differences were present. Most results from neurocognitive tests were inconclusive, while a few parameters confirmed non-inferiority for users treated longer than 3 years.

CONCLUSION: The impairing effects of antidepressant treatment on driving performance and neurocognition mitigate over time following long-term use of 3 years.

Original language	English
Article number	e2762
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Number of pages	12
Journal	Human Psychopharmacology
Volume	36
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2762
Publication status	Published - Jan 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Authors would like to thank A. van Oers, I. Brauers, H. Brauers, C. Steins, J. Jongen, S. Coleman, F.R.J. Vinckenbosch (Maastricht University), J. Jansen, R. Enkelaar, Z. Kösem, J. Zwart, W. Langendroff, S. Timmermans, S. van Kreel, D. Bervoets and S. de Klerk (University of Utrecht), B. de Kruijk, E. Flier and M. Janmaat (University of Groningen) for their assistance in carrying out the study. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank C. van Leeuwen, MD. (Maastricht University), N. Bouwmeester, MD (University of Utrecht) and P.P. de Deyn, MD (University of Groningen), for their medical supervision. This study was financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management.

Funding Information:
Authors would like to thank A. van Oers, I. Brauers, H. Brauers, C. Steins, J. Jongen, S. Coleman, F.R.J. Vinckenbosch (Maastricht University), J. Jansen, R. Enkelaar, Z. K?sem, J. Zwart, W. Langendroff, S. Timmermans, S. van Kreel, D. Bervoets and S. de Klerk (University of Utrecht), B. de Kruijk, E. Flier and M. Janmaat (University of Groningen) for their assistance in carrying out the study. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank C. van Leeuwen, MD. (Maastricht University), N. Bouwmeester, MD (University of Utrecht) and P.P. de Deyn, MD (University of Groningen), for their medical supervision. This study was financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

antidepressants
driving performance
long-term use
neurocognition
on-the-road driving

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "Driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To assess driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants, in comparison to healthy controls.METHODS: Thirty-eight long-term (>6 months) users of amitriptyline (n = 13) and mirtazapine (n = 25) were compared to 65 healthy controls. Driving performance was assessed using a 1-h standardised highway driving test in actual traffic, with road-tracking error (standard deviation of lateral position [SDLP]) being the primary measure. Secondary measures included neurocognitive tasks related to driving. Performance differences between groups were compared to those of blood alcohol concentrations of 0.5 mg/ml to determine clinical relevance.RESULTS: Compared to controls, mean increase in SDLP of all antidepressant users was not significant, nor clinically relevant (+0.75 cm, 95% CI: -0.83 cm; +2.33 cm). However, users treated less than 3 years (n = 20) did show a significant and clinically relevant increase in SDLP (+2.05 cm). No significant effects were observed on neurocognitive tasks for any user group, although large individual differences were present. Most results from neurocognitive tests were inconclusive, while a few parameters confirmed non-inferiority for users treated longer than 3 years.CONCLUSION: The impairing effects of antidepressant treatment on driving performance and neurocognition mitigate over time following long-term use of 3 years.",

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note = "Funding Information: Authors would like to thank A. van Oers, I. Brauers, H. Brauers, C. Steins, J. Jongen, S. Coleman, F.R.J. Vinckenbosch (Maastricht University), J. Jansen, R. Enkelaar, Z. K{\"o}sem, J. Zwart, W. Langendroff, S. Timmermans, S. van Kreel, D. Bervoets and S. de Klerk (University of Utrecht), B. de Kruijk, E. Flier and M. Janmaat (University of Groningen) for their assistance in carrying out the study. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank C. van Leeuwen, MD. (Maastricht University), N. Bouwmeester, MD (University of Utrecht) and P.P. de Deyn, MD (University of Groningen), for their medical supervision. This study was financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management. Funding Information: Authors would like to thank A. van Oers, I. Brauers, H. Brauers, C. Steins, J. Jongen, S. Coleman, F.R.J. Vinckenbosch (Maastricht University), J. Jansen, R. Enkelaar, Z. K?sem, J. Zwart, W. Langendroff, S. Timmermans, S. van Kreel, D. Bervoets and S. de Klerk (University of Utrecht), B. de Kruijk, E. Flier and M. Janmaat (University of Groningen) for their assistance in carrying out the study. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank C. van Leeuwen, MD. (Maastricht University), N. Bouwmeester, MD (University of Utrecht) and P.P. de Deyn, MD (University of Groningen), for their medical supervision. This study was financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Authors. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

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doi = "10.1002/hup.2762",

language = "English",

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AU - Vermeeren, Annemiek

AU - van Dijken, Joke H

AU - J A E van de Loo, Aurora

AU - Veldstra, Janet L

AU - de Waard, Dick

AU - C Verster, Joris

AU - A Brookhuis, Karel

AU - Ramaekers, Johannes G

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N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants, in comparison to healthy controls.METHODS: Thirty-eight long-term (>6 months) users of amitriptyline (n = 13) and mirtazapine (n = 25) were compared to 65 healthy controls. Driving performance was assessed using a 1-h standardised highway driving test in actual traffic, with road-tracking error (standard deviation of lateral position [SDLP]) being the primary measure. Secondary measures included neurocognitive tasks related to driving. Performance differences between groups were compared to those of blood alcohol concentrations of 0.5 mg/ml to determine clinical relevance.RESULTS: Compared to controls, mean increase in SDLP of all antidepressant users was not significant, nor clinically relevant (+0.75 cm, 95% CI: -0.83 cm; +2.33 cm). However, users treated less than 3 years (n = 20) did show a significant and clinically relevant increase in SDLP (+2.05 cm). No significant effects were observed on neurocognitive tasks for any user group, although large individual differences were present. Most results from neurocognitive tests were inconclusive, while a few parameters confirmed non-inferiority for users treated longer than 3 years.CONCLUSION: The impairing effects of antidepressant treatment on driving performance and neurocognition mitigate over time following long-term use of 3 years.

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Driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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