University of Oulu

Räisänen, T., Hakko, H., Riipinen, P., Räty, E., & Kantojärvi, L. (2019). Personality disorders of drivers killed in fatal motor vehicle accidents in Finland during 1990–2011. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 140(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13039

Personality disorders of drivers killed in fatal motor vehicle accidents in Finland during 1990-2011

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Author: Räisänen, T.1; Hakko, H.1; Riipinen, P.2;
Organizations: 1Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu
2Department of Psychiatry, Research Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oulu, Oulu
3The Finnish Crash Data Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Format: article
Version: accepted version
Access: open
Online Access: PDF Full Text (PDF, 0.9 MB)
Persistent link: http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi-fe2019091828602
Language: English
Published: John Wiley & Sons, 2019
Publish Date: 2020-05-14
Description:

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association of personality disorders (PDs) to deaths of drivers in fatal motor vehicle accidents (FMVAs) and analyze gender differences in lifetime psychiatric disorders and medico‐legal findings at the time of accident.

Method: The study sample consisted of 4810 Finnish drivers killed in FMVAs in Finland between 1990 and 2011. Doctor‐diagnosed PD was found in 146 drivers (118 men and 28 women). The information of psychiatric morbidity was obtained from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care.

Results: The proportion of deceased drivers with PDs had increased significantly over the study period, particularly among females and those with PD not otherwise specified (NOS). Suicidality and use of medication affecting driving ability were more common among females with PD compared to males with PD. 88% of all deceased drivers with PD had comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that PDs may predispose drivers to FMVAs, particularly females. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating the fitness‐to‐drive of subjects with PD and especially comorbid substance use disorders, which may relate to an increased risk of fatal motor accidents.

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Series: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica
ISSN: 0001-690X
ISSN-E: 1600-0447
ISSN-L: 0001-690X
Volume: 140
Issue: 1
Pages: 39 - 49
DOI: 10.1111/acps.13039
OADOI: https://oadoi.org/10.1111/acps.13039
Type of Publication: A1 Journal article – refereed
Field of Science: 3124 Neurology and psychiatry
Subjects:
Copyright information: © 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Räisänen, T., Hakko, H., Riipinen, P., Räty, E., & Kantojärvi, L. (2019). Personality disorders of drivers killed in fatal motor vehicle accidents in Finland during 1990–2011. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 140(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13039, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13039. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.