The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of agomelatine and venlafaxine on driving skills and on driving performance in an on-road driving test in depressed inpatients.

40 depressed inpatients were randomly assigned to treatment with either agomelatine (n=20) or venlafaxine (n=20). Patients were tested before pharmacologic treatment (t0), and on days 14 (t1) and 28 (t2) with computerized tests and additionally were rated in an on-road driving test on day 28 by a licensed driving instructor. To control for retest effects a group of 20 healthy subjects was examined in the same time schedule.

After two weeks of treatment with agomelatine or venlafaxine patients showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms, and a distinct improvement in concentration and stress-tolerance. Furthermore, prior discharge to outpatient treatment (day 28), 72.5% of patients were labeled abundantly fit to drive in the on-road driving test, in 22.5% of cases a satisfactory performance was certified and in 5% of our patient sample there were slight concerns with respect to fitness to drive. Patients did not however reach performance level in functional domains of healthy controls. Significant differences between treatment groups could not be observed.

Our results indicate that depressed patients treated with agomelatine or venlafaxine show a better test performance on tasks related to driving skills than do untreated patients Besides, most patients could be rated as fit to drive, on an actual driving test conducted by a licensed driving instructor, prior discharge to outpatient treatment.