Distinct Driving Patterns Seen for Seniors With Major Depressive Disorder

MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Older adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) demonstrate distinct and riskier driving behaviors than those without MDD, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Network Open.

Ganesh M. Babulal, Ph.D., from Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues examined differences in naturalistic driving behavior and safety between older adults with and without MDD in a prospective longitudinal study. The sample included 85 older adults (aged 65 years and older) with MDD and 310 without. A commercial data logger was used to record daily driving behavior.

The researchers found that compared with controls, at baseline, adults with MDD had greater depressive symptoms and comorbidities, used more antidepressants, and had a higher number of medications. In a longitudinal analysis, there was an association seen between adults with MDD and hard braking and hard cornering events per trip, greater distances driven from home, more unique destinations visited, and higher random entropy over time.

“Identifying distinct patterns of driving behavior associated with depression can inform targeted interventions like cognitive retraining or driver rehabilitation by occupational therapists that may support safe mobility and enhance the well-being of older drivers with MDD,” the authors write.

Two authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.

Abstract/Full Text