Car driving in schizophrenia: can visual memory and organization make a difference?

Abstract

The research demonstrates that impairment of visual abilities does not prevent people with schizophrenia from driving and emphasizes the importance of general cognitive status for complex and multidimensional everyday tasks. The findings support the need for further investigation in the field of car driving for this population - a move that will considerably contribute to the participation and well-being. Implication for Rehabilitation Unique approach for driving evaluation in schizophrenia should be designed since direct applications of knowledge and practice acquired from other populations are not reliable. This research demonstrates that visual perception deficits in schizophrenia do not prevent clients from driving, and general cognitive status appeared to be a valid determinant for actual driving. We recommended usage of a general test of cognition such as Mini-Mental State Examination, or conjunction number of cognitive factors such as executive functions (e.g., Trail Making Test) and attention (e.g., Continuous Performance Test) in addition to spatial-visual ability tests (e.g., Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test) for considering driving status in schizophrenia.

Comparing executive functioning and clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of people with schizophrenia who hold a driver’s license to those who do not

“…These findings highlight the role of EF as cognitive skills required for driving, a complex activity based on coordination, perception, organization, and planning (Asimakopulos et al, 2012;Butler, Silverstein, & Dakin, 2008;Lipskaya et al, 2013). Similar findings on the relationship between driving skills and EF have been found in other populations, for example, people with dementia, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury (Coleman et al, 2002;Freund, Colgrove, Petrakos, & McLeod, 2008;Lincoln & Radford, 2008;Patomella, Kottorp, & Tham, 2008).…”

“…Moreover, people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder frequently experience decreased cognitive functioning, including executive function (EF), as an inherent part of their health condition. Research has shown that cognitive impairments affect performance of wide range of everyday activities in general and driving in particular (Bozikas, Kosmidis, Kiosseoglou, & Karavatos, 2006;Green, Kern, & Heaton, 2004;Lipskaya et al, 2013;Palmer et al, 2002).…”

Examining motion speed processing in schizophrenia using the flash lag illusion

“…Currently, it is also unclear whether speed processing deficits in schizophrenia impact other aspects of functioning in dynamic visual environments. Some evidence suggests patients experience twice as many car accidents compared to other drivers (Edlund et al, 1989; Lipskaya-Velikovsky et al, 2013). The Flash Lag illusion demonstrates that judgments of the relative position between stationary and moving objects are affected by motion speed.…”

Visuospatial and Sensory Integration Tasks in Patients With Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder: Relationship to Body Mass Index and Smoking

“…The constructional apraxia uncovered by the CFT was not secondary to visual agnosia as evidenced by the DROT findings. Although the employed tasks did not constitute real life challenges, our findings may have clinical significance in patients with schizophrenia because difficulties with perceptual ( 43 ) and spatial integration along with other neurocognitive deficits may be a potential explanation for heightened rates of car accidents ( 44 ) in schizophrenics considering that proper copying cube ability ( 45 ) and left-right orientation ( 46 , 47 ) are important prerequisites for safe driving. Such deficits may relate to lateralized brain dysfunction in these patients ( 48 ) that has some basis in altered brain connectivity ( 49 ).…”