Investigation of vehicle driving ability in two diagnostic groups of epileptic patients with special neuropsychological approach

Med Law. 1997;16(2):277-87.

Abstract

The driving abilities of two groups of epileptic patients (temporal lobe epileptics: 44 and idiopathic generalized epileptics: 26) and control group of healthy volunteers were compared. A computerized device (MST-CARAT), was used validated by comparing the test performance measures with the results of the practical driving tests. Our results show that the neuropsychological aspects deserve greater attention in temporal lobe epileptic patients in general and in those epileptic patients receiving non-monotherapy (especially on Phenobarbital). The level of driving skill of well-treated idiopathic generalized epileptic patients was similar to that of normal drivers.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Automobile Driving / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / drug therapy
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects
  • Reaction Time / drug effects