2010 BC Guide in Determining Fitness to Drive

AffectEmotional control – the ability to manage frustration, agitation, impulsivity – is an importantfunctional component of safe driving performance. Affect includes: emotional intelligence impulse control / emotional control frustration threshold agitation, and impulsivity and / or mood control / management.In this Manual, affect will be considered as one of the functional abilities needed for driving forindividuals with psychiatric disorders.PsychomotorPsychomotor functions affect the coordination of cognitive processes and motor activity. In thisManual, psychomotor function will be considered as one of the functional abilities needed fordriving for individuals with psychiatric disorders.19.2 Prevalence and incidence of psychiatric disordersMood disorders - Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, DysthymicDisorder (Axis I)In Canada, approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in theirlives, with approximately 1% experiencing Bipolar Disorder. Depression is more commonamong women, with a female to male ratio of 2 to1. Women also are 2 to 3 times more likely todevelop Dysthymic Disorder. For bipolar disorder, the ratio between males and females isapproximately equal.Anxiety disorders (Axis I)Anxiety disorders affect 12% of the Canadian population, and result in mild to severeimpairment. The prevalence in the Canadian population is higher for Specific Phobia (6.2-8.0%)and Social Phobia (6.7%) compared to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (1.8%), GeneralizedAnxiety Disorder (1.1%), and Panic Disorder (0.7%). The prevalence of Posttraumatic StressDisorder in the United States is estimated to be 8 to 9%.Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Axis I)Prevalence rates of ADHD vary, depending on the diagnostic criteria used, the setting (e.g.general population vs. clinic sample), and the reporter (e.g. parent, teacher, self). Estimatessuggest that ADHD affects 3% to 10% of school age children and is 2 to 3 times more commonin boys. It is estimated that 33% to 67% of those with ADHD continue to manifest symptomsinto adulthood, and that 5% to 7% of the adult population has ADHD.230