Giving up driving in Alzheimer's disease—an integrative therapeutic approach

A patient with moderately progressed AD who lacked insight of his need to cease driving is described, and an integrative treatment approach, combining behavioral and psychodynamic modalities, is helped to formulate effective ways of coping with his loss of access to independent transportation.

Abstract

Abstract For patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), a recommendation to stop operating a motor vehicle can be a serious event complicated by a loss of self‐esteem and personal dignity. Patients are often reluctant to give up an activity so essential, both practically and symbolically, to independent living. We describe here a patient with moderately progressed AD who lacked insight of his need to cease driving. Through an integrative treatment approach, combining behavioral and psychodynamic modalities, we helped him to formulate effective ways of coping with his loss of access to independent transportation. We favor a psychotherapeutic strategy that combines behavioral and managerial measures with dynamic patient interaction, thereby developing the patient's insight of the need to give up driving while fostering his sense of autonomy.