title: Driving performance and psychomotor function in depressed patients treated with agomelatine or venlafaxine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a randomized case-control study in depressive inpatients to assess the effects of agomelatine and venlafaxine on psychomotor functions related to driving skills and on driving performance in an on-road driving test.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 depressed inpatients treated with agomelatine (n = 20) or venlafaxine (n = 20) were tested before pharmacological treatment (t0), and on days 14 (t1) and 28 (t2). 20 healthy subjects were examined in the same time schedule to control for retest effects in psychomotor measures. Additionally, participants were rated in a standardized on-road driving test on day 28 by a licensed driving instructor, who was blind with respect to treatment, diagnosis and test results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 4 weeks of treatment (t2) with agomelatine or venlafaxine, patients showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms, and a distinct improvement in psychomotor functions. Controlling for retest effects in psychomotor measures, data indicate, that both patient groups significantly improved in tests measuring reactivity and stress-tolerance. Furthermore, prior discharge to outpatient treatment (day 28), 72.5% of patients were labeled abundantly fit to drive in the on-road driving test by a licensed driving instructor. However, patients did not reach the performance level of healthy controls in functional domains tested. Significant differences between treatment groups were not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that depressed inpatients treated with agomelatine or venlafaxine show a better test performance on tasks related to driving skills than do untreated depressives and could predominantly be rated as fit to drive on an actual driving test prior discharge to outpatient treatment.
authors: kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Psychiatric Hospital, Wasserburg/Inn, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Brunnauer
authors: kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Psychiatric Hospital, Wasserburg/Inn, Germany.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Buschert
authors: kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Psychiatric Hospital, Wasserburg/Inn, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fric
authors: kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Psychiatric Hospital, Wasserburg/Inn, Germany.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Distler
authors: kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Psychiatric Hospital, Wasserburg/Inn, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Sander
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Segmiller
authors: kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Psychiatric Hospital, Wasserburg/Inn, Germany.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Zwanzger
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Laux
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D009281:Naphthalenes
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes