The impact of reboxetine and mirtazapine on driving simulator performance and psychomotor function in depressed patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of reboxetine and mirtazapine on psychomotor functions related to driving skills and on driving simulator performance in depressed inpatients.


METHODS
Forty depressed inpatients diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR criteria were randomly assigned to treatment with either reboxetine (N = 20) or mirtazapine (N = 20). To control for retest effects in psychomotor measures, a group of 10 healthy controls was examined on the same time schedule. Participants were tested once before pharmacologic treatment and twice after initiation of treatment (days 7 and 14) with computerized tests related to car-driving skills. Data were collected with the Act and React Testsystem ART-90 and the Wiener Testsystem, measuring visual perception, reactivity, stress tolerance, concentration, and vigilance. In addition, patients went through various risk simulations on a static driving simulator. Data were analyzed with nonparametric statistics and repeated-measures analysis of variance. The study was conducted from June 2004 through June 2006.


RESULTS
Before onset of treatment with antidepressants, about 65% of patients did not reach the threshold criterion according to the German guidelines for road and traffic safety. After 14 days of treatment with reboxetine or mirtazapine, patients improved in driving ability skills. Controlling for retest effects in psychomotor measures, data indicate that both patient groups significantly improved in tests measuring selective attention and reactivity (all p < .01). Furthermore, the frequency of accidents in the risk simulations markedly decreased in patients receiving mirtazapine and reboxetine (all p < .05). Statistically significant differences between treatment groups could not be shown.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that partially remitted depressed inpatients treated with reboxetine or mirtazapine show a better performance on tasks related to driving skills than do untreated depressives.
Brunnauer
Alexander
A
Inn-Salzach-Hospital, Academic Hospital of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Neurology, Wasserburg am Inn, Germany. Alexander.Brunnauer@Inn-Salzach-Klinikum.de
Laux
Gerd
G
David
Irmgard
I
Fric
Mirijam
M
Hermisson
Igor
I
Möller
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D009025:Morpholines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077593:Reboxetine
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009025:Morpholines; D008803:Mianserin; D000077593:Reboxetine; D000078785:Mirtazapine