Objective: The overarching objective of this study is to explore driving behaviour in individuals with FND phenotypes. Specifically, this research aims to enhance understanding of driving behavior, and symptoms that adults with FND experience while driving a motor vehicle, such as safe driving behavior and hazard perception skills.

Background: Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) can encompass a range of neurological symptoms that influence driving behaviour. The two most common symptom groups of FND are functional motor disorders and dissociative attacks, also known as Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES). Currently, there are a variety of national and international guidelines and recommendations for driving in ‘organic’ or ‘non-functional’ neurological diseases, such as stroke or epilepsy. However, the question of whether driving in people with FND should be restricted, remains a topic for debate.

Method: Participants included 45 FND patients with dissociative attacks or functional motor symptoms and 45 healthy controls. FND symptoms were evaluated using a quantitative cross-sectional online survey, while driving experience and behaviour were assessed using validated questionnaires and simulator-based hazard tests that have been related to driver performance and crash risk.

Results: FND participants exhibited similar performance on time-based hazard perception tests compared to healthy controls (5.54 ± 1.68 seconds vs 6.60 ± 1.41 seconds, P = 0.273. Participants with FND significantly outperformed healthy controls  in prediction accuracy using non-time-based hazard prediction tests (4.12 vs 2.54 P = 0.004 ).

Conclusion: Hazard prediction test responses of FND drivers were more accurate compared to controls, what might translate to increased hypervigilance in these patients.

« Back to 2022 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/exploring-driving-behaviour-in-patients-with-functional-neurological-disorders-fnd/