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Depression and driving in the elderly
Author(s) -
Rubinsztein Judy,
Lawton Claire Alison
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930100104
Subject(s) - psychomotor learning , depression (economics) , psychomotor retardation , psychology , injury prevention , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , suicide prevention , psychomotor disorder , impaired vision , physical medicine and rehabilitation , gerontology , psychiatry , medicine , medical emergency , cognition , optometry , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Elderly, depressed patients have particular problems which may hamper their ability to drive a motor car safely. Attention and psychomotor functioning are important for safe driving. These factors are commonly impaired in depression. In addition, age‐related decreases in these functions have been shown. The elderly often have other disabilities which may hamper driving, for example poor vision and reduced strength. All these factors may be cumulative and need to be considered by the doctor advising an elderly depressed patient on their ability to drive. These issues are highlighted in this article using two case histories of elderly patients involved in motor car crashes who were depressed.