OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between suicidal ideation, antidepressive medication and the risk of a car crash resulting in serious injury. DESIGN: This was a population-based case-control study. Cases were car drivers who were involved in crashes in which at least one occupant of their car was hospitalised or killed. Controls were selected using a cluster random sample of car drivers on the roads in the same region. Self-reported information on suicidal ideation in the 12 months prior to the crash or roadside survey, current usage of antidepressive medication as well as other crash-related risk factors was obtained from the drivers, or by proxy, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Auckland region of New Zealand in 1998 and 1999. RESULTS: There was a significant association between drivers who had suicidal ideation but without current antidepressive medication and the risk of an injury crash (OR=4.16, 95% CI=2.14-8.10), when compared to drivers without any suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: The risk of an injury crash was significantly increased for those drivers who reported to have previous or current suicidal ideation but without current antidepressant medication.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between suicidal ideation, antidepressive medication and the risk of a car crash resulting in serious injury. DESIGN: This was a population-based case-control study. Cases were car drivers who were involved in crashes in which at least one occupant of their car was hospitalised or killed. Controls were selected using a cluster random sample of car drivers on the roads in the same region. Self-reported information on suicidal ideation in the 12 months prior to the crash or roadside survey, current usage of antidepressive medication as well as other crash-related risk factors was obtained from the drivers, or by proxy, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Auckland region of New Zealand in 1998 and 1999. RESULTS: There was a significant association between drivers who had suicidal ideation but without current antidepressive medication and the risk of an injury crash (OR=4.16, 95% CI=2.14-8.10), when compared to drivers without any suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: The risk of an injury crash was significantly increased for those drivers who reported to have previous or current suicidal ideation but without current antidepressant medication.
Authors: Alexandra L C Martiniuk; Rebecca Q Ivers; Nick Glozier; George C Patton; Lawrence T Lam; Soufiane Boufous; Teresa Senserrick; Ann Williamson; Mark Stevenson; Robyn Norton Journal: CMAJ Date: 2009-11-16 Impact factor: 8.262