Linked Life Data

18926498

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/18926498

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-10-17
pubmed:abstractText
Several experimental studies have shown a negative influence of benzodiazepines on driving skills. The objective of this study is to study the relationship between the blood concentration of benzodiazepines and the influence on performance in field sobriety tests. A retrospective case file evaluation was conducted to select cases of drivers, tested positive for benzodiazepines only in the period from January 1999 to December 2004. Drivers were grouped into the categories sub therapeutic, therapeutic or elevated concentrations. The outcome of the tests (walking, walking after turn, nystagmus, Romberg's test, behavior, pupils and orientation) was binomial. A Chi square test was used to assess differences in proportions of the categorized cases. In total 171 cases were included. Observations of behavior (n=137; p<0.01), walking (n=109; p<0.01), walking after turn (n=89; p=0.02) and Romberg's test (n=88; p<0.05) were significantly related to the benzodiazepine concentration. There was no significant relation between benzodiazepine concentration and effect on pupil size, nystagmus or orientation. The results of our study indicate a relation between the concentration of benzodiazepines and the results of some performance tests. More effort is needed to standardize the tests and to determine the sensitivity and selectivity of the tests for benzodiazepines.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
1752-928X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
15
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
483-8
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
The relation between the blood benzodiazepine concentration and performance in suspected impaired drivers.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Toxicology, Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands. b.smink@nfi.minjus.nl
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article