PSYCHIATRIC EXPERTISE ON FITNESS TO DRIVE IN RELATION TO PSYCHIATRIC-DIAGNOSIS - AN ANALYSIS OF 712 PSYCHIATRIC EXPERTISES

In a large University Department of Psychiatry a retrospective analysi s of 712 psychiatric expertises on fitness to drive was carried out to identify factors influencing the decision ''unfit to drive''. Psychol ogical test results were identified as the most potent factors influen cing this decision, whereas a psychiatric diagnosis seems to be less i mportant. The results indicate that demographic data and history (prev ious psychiatric hospitalisations, previous Verdict ''unfit to drive'' ) were not influential. it is concluded that today's psychiatrists, wh en carrying out expertises on the question of fitness to drive, do not follow previous recommendations of placing a verdict of ''unfit to dr ive'' on all persons with a psychiatric diagnosis. They obviously foll ow a more individualised and pragmatic approach.