Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to investigate the association between suicidal ideation, antidepressive medication and the risk of a car crash resulting in serious injury.

DESIGN:

This was a population-based case-control study. Cases were car drivers who were involved in crashes in which at least one occupant of their car was hospitalised or killed. Controls were selected using a cluster random sample of car drivers on the roads in the same region. Self-reported information on suicidal ideation in the 12 months prior to the crash or roadside survey, current usage of antidepressive medication as well as other crash-related risk factors was obtained from the drivers, or by proxy, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

SETTING:

The study was conducted in the Auckland region of New Zealand in 1998 and 1999.

RESULTS:

There was a significant association between drivers who had suicidal ideation but without current antidepressive medication and the risk of an injury crash (OR=4.16, 95% CI=2.14-8.10), when compared to drivers without any suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSION:

The risk of an injury crash was significantly increased for those drivers who reported to have previous or current suicidal ideation but without current antidepressant medication.