Stupid Headline and Stupid Study and Big Boobs
Thanks to Alli for pointing this one out. From the BBC:
Depression link to poor driving
People on anti-depressants may have impaired driving skills, a small US study suggests.Researchers put 60 people through a driving simulation to test steering, concentration and reactions.
North Dakota University found those on high dose anti-depressant courses had poorer driving skills.
But it was not clear whether it was the pills or the actual condition that caused the impairment and researchers said a larger study was now needed.
The participants were split between those who were not on medication, those taking a low dose course and others on a high dose.
The simulation they were put through recreated a series of common driving situations, such as reacting to brake lights, stop signs and traffic signals.
The team, which is presenting its findings at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, found a significant difference between those not on medication and those on high doses.
Overall, those not on medication got 69 points, those on low medication 65 and those on high 54.
The team said it could be either the pills themselves or the condition which caused the problems.
Lead researcher Dr Holly Dannewitz said: “There is obviously more work to do on this. We need a much larger study, but there certainly seems to be some sort of link.
“I think people who are depressed, especially those on anti-depressants, should be aware of this if they are driving or doing anything that relies on concentration and reaction skills.”
But Alison Kerry, from the mental health charity Mind, said: “Depression can effect people in many different ways, but one of the common symptoms is experiencing difficulty concentrating.
“However, it’s important to state that everyone has highs and lows in concentration and reaction times, and a period of depression doesn’t mean that you’re a danger on the roads.”
Alison, get some balls. This study is crap! Sixty people? Driving simulation? Dear god, the BBC is getting desperate. Oh, wait — they’ve been desperate for a long time. Cf.: My Big Breasts and Me, which I actually watched last night. Apparently, antidepressants also trigger bad taste in TV programs.
Liz | 11:52 AM | Uncategorized
Hey Liz, thanks for the tip re: My Big Breasts and Me. The teenage boy who lives in me will always perk up like a Pavlov’s dog at the mention of big breasts. I went to the link for the show and noticed there was also a program on small breasts called “my small breasts and I”. I was wondering since you’re linquistically inclined maybe you can answer as to why the difference for “my big breasts and ME” vs, “my small breasts and I”. The ME vs. the I. Clue me in. THis is very important. And also, are you aware of any clinical studies of the effects of large breasts on depression? Thanks a lot, David
The FAA revokes a pilot license if the licensee takes an AD. What now, the DMV will revoke our driver’s licence because we take an AD? I hope they don’t base their decision based on such a weak study. Ugh!
Okay, let me get this straight:
The group who did the poorest in this TINY study were the ONLY ones on high doses of ad, right? Would that not indicate a link between drugs and poor driving, not depression and poor driving??? I’m not talking causation, just correlation.
UNLESS… the drugs don’t really help the depression all that much. If you’re going to link the depression to the driving in the high-dose group you’d almost have to acknowledge the fact that the drugs aren’t doing much.
And you are soooo correct, Liz. That’s a totally bogus headline.
I don’t know. I did fine when I worked in London, was on lithium and I drove just fine, even if it was on the wrong side of the road. (just kidding).
A bad driver is a bad driver. I don’t believe an anti-depressant has anything to do with it.
Now, if it was drinking and driving.
As for My big breasts an me….
It must be sweeps week across the pond…Either that or the BBC just bought stock in Victoria Secret and Anne Summers…..
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