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Relapse of drunk driving and association with traffic accidents, alcohol-related problems and biomarkers of impulsivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2018

Tõnis Tokko ,
Diva Eensoo ,
Mariliis Vaht ,
Klaus-Peter Lesch ,
Andreas Reif  and
Jaanus Harro Open the ORCID record for Jaanus Harro [Opens in a new window]
Tõnis Tokko
Affiliation:
Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Estonia
Diva Eensoo
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Estonia
Mariliis Vaht
Affiliation:
Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Estonia
Klaus-Peter Lesch
Affiliation:
Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany, b) Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia, c) Department of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Andreas Reif
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Jaanus Harro*
Affiliation:
Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Estonia
*
Author for correspondence: Jaanus Harro, Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Ravila 14A Chemicum, 50411 Tartu, Estonia. E-mail: jaanus.harro@ut.ee
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Abstract

Objective

Individual biological predispositions should play a role in risky driving behaviour. Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1) gene polymorphisms have been identified as markers of impulsivity, alcohol use and excessive risk-taking. We aimed to find out how this knowledge on neurobiology of impulsivity applies to drunk driving and traffic behaviour in general.

Methods

We have longitudinally examined the behaviour of drunk drivers (n = 203) and controls (n = 211) in traffic, in association with their alcohol-related problems, personality measures and the three biomarkers. We analysed differences between the subjects based on whether they had committed driving while impaired by alcohol (DWI) violation in a 10-year time period after recruitment or not and investigated further, what kind of predictive value do the different biomarkers have in committing DWI and other traffic violations and accidents.

Results

The original drunk drivers group had lower platelet MAO activity but further DWI was not significantly associated with this measure. Being a NPSR1 T-allele carrier contributed to the risk of repeatedly committing DWI. DAT1 9R carriers in contrast were involved in more traffic accidents by their own fault (active accidents), compared to 10R homozygotes in the whole sample. All groups with DWI also had significantly more alcohol-related problems and higher scores in maladaptive impulsivity compared to controls without DWI.

Conclusions

Established biological markers of alcohol use and impulsivity can be reliably associated with everyday traffic behaviour and help in contributing to the understanding of the need for more personalized prevention activities.

Keywords

biomarkersdriving under the influenceimpulsive behaviour
Type
Original Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , April 2019 , pp. 84 - 92
Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2018 

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