The road to recovery: Experiences of driving with bipolar disorder

Introduction It has been suggested that bipolar disorder impairs cognitive, psychomotor and emotional regulation abilities which could impact an individual's driving behaviour. This research aimed to investigate experiences of driving with a diagnosis of a bipolar disorder, as a study on this subject has not been located in the literature. Method Two focus groups were conducted during a bipolar day programme in an independent psychiatric hospital in the Republic of Ireland (n=18). Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results Themes emerging from the data include: the meaning of driving, the impact of bipolar disorder on driving behaviour and the management of driving behaviour when unwell. An unexpected theme was the perceived discriminatory nature of the Irish Road Safety Authority's fitness to drive guidelines. Conclusion Driving is a meaningful activity, enabling engagement in areas of occupation. Participants' desire to implement their own compensatory strategies when unwell can be viewed as a process of taking control in their recovery and minimising the effects of occupational disruption. Their view that fitness to drive guidelines are inequitable could be related to perceptions that mental illness has a lasting influence on their life narratives.