Effective antidepressant therapy is prolonged, to prevent relapse, so that patients continue to take this medication while functioning well in the community, with no obvious adverse effects. However, their psychomotor functioning, including their driving ability, is not regularly evaluated. This paper presents some results of a uk study, designed to evaluate the psychomotor performance of such patients; these patients are typical of those often seen at out-patient follow-up clinics. The criteria for inclusion in the study were: (1) primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (DSM 111r); (2) depressive symptoms in remission; (3) administration of stable dose antidepressant therapy for over three months, with no change in dosage for over one month; (4) no other medication; (5) no substance abuse. 28 patients, with 14 each on tricyclics and ssris, were administered two batteries of tests: (1) psychomotor test battery; (2) tracking test-driving simulator. The same tests were administered to 23 control subjects. The patients did not appear to show profound impairment of their psychomotor performance. However, the reaction times of patients on ssris were significantly slower, and these patients had marginally lower alertness and attention span than the patients on tricyclics and the control subjects.
Samenvatting