Titre du document / Document title

Fahrverhalten bei Narkolepsie: Fragebogenanalyse unter Betroffenen = Driving in narcolepsy: Analysis by questionnaire among patients

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

KOTTERBA Sylvia ⁽¹⁾ ; MÜLLER Nicole ⁽¹⁾ ; STEINER Gerhard ⁽²⁾ ; MAYER Geert ⁽³⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, ALLEMAGNE
⁽²⁾ Deutsche Narkolepsiegesellschaft, ALLEMAGNE
⁽³⁾ Neurologische Klinik Hephata, Treysa, ALLEMAGNE

Résumé / Abstract

Objective Daytime sleepiness is a main symptom in narcolepsy. This symptom may account for motor vehicle accidents. Several studies in various countries revealed increased accident rates in narcoleptic patients. Therefore there are legal permissions regarding driving licences. Physicians are asked to assess a patient's ability to drive a car. They have to include study results and neuropsychological investigations. Method In order to gain data regarding automobile accidents of narcoleptic patients in Germany a questionnaire developed by a patient was presented at the yearly conference of the German Narcolpsy Society 1999. 100 patients (57 women, 48.6 ± 15.7 years old, 43 men, 50.4 ± 16.7 years old) and 95 controls (47 women, 37.5 ± 10.8 years old, 48 men, 41.5 ± 11.9 years old) took part in the study. Results 43 patients had 1 to 8 accidents. In patients and controls persons younger than 40 had higher accident rates than older ones without difference between the groups. Narcoleptic patients older than 40 had a significantly reduced number of accidents (women: 0.1 ± 0.3 versus 1.3 ± 1.7 in controls, p < 0.01, men: 0.7 ± 1.2 versus 1.9 ± 1.4 in controls, p < 0.01). If the car is needed for the job more narcoleptic patients than healthy controls were without accidents. In order to avoid crashes patients developed various coping strategies (preferred: preparation for driving by taking a nap before driving or taking medication (45 out of 80), stop over to take a nap (41 out of 80)). Conclusion The study could not reveal increased automobile accident rates in narcoleptic patients when they have been informed about their disease. Coping strategies even led to less crashes in patients older than 40 compared to controls. Regarding driving licence individual ability in driving practice has to be considered. Coping strategies should be presented.

Revue / Journal Title

Somnologie   ISSN 1432-9123 

Source / Source

2002, vol. 6, n^o1, pp. 26-33 (34 ref.)

Langue / Language

Allemand

Editeur / Publisher

Springer, Heidelberg, ALLEMAGNE  (1997) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Sleep disorder ; Neurological disorder ; Nervous system diseases ; Coping ; Human ; Questionnaire ; Behavior ; Vehicle driving ; Narcolepsy ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Trouble sommeil ; Trouble neurologique ; Système nerveux pathologie ; Coping ; Homme ; Questionnaire ; Comportement ; Conduite véhicule ; Narcolepsie ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Trastorno sueño ; Trastorno neurológico ; Sistema nervioso patología ; Coronación ; Hombre ; Cuestionario ; Conducta ; Conducción vehículo ; Narcolepsia ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 26879, 35400010232487.0050