title: Periodic psychological examination of train drivers' fitness in Belgium: deficits observed and efficacy of the screening procedure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report on a procedure for early detection of individual psychological deficits that adversely influence cognitive driving abilities in train drivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of 1266 train drivers sent for recertification examination in 2012 and 2013 were reviewed. Performance on attention and memory tests in the first step of the procedure, and results of extended psychological examination for those not succeeded, are described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine percent of train drivers were referred for extended psychological examination; 1.5% was considered unfit for driving. Most frequently, the background was a sleep disorder, intolerance for irregular working hours, psychosocial stress, and depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodic psychological examinations allow the detection of relevant deficits in functioning in a substantial portion of train drivers. The stepwise procedure adds to the feasibility of such examinations in large groups of professional drivers.
authors: From the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Dr De Valck), University of Brussels; and Corporate Prevention Services (Dr De Valck, Mr Smeekens, and Dr Vantrappen), Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Elke
authors: E
authors: De Valck
authors: Ludo
authors: L
authors: Smeekens
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Vantrappen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011890:Railroads; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies