The randomised-controlled trial (RCT) is accepted as being the best method for assessing and evaluating new treatments for mental illness. This text explains RCTs for mental health professionals.
Mental health problems account for a quarter of all physician consultations, and place an enormous financial burden on society. For this reason, the search for effective treatments in psychiatry continues apace. But as they are developed, it is essential
1. Treatments good, bad or worthless - and how do we tell?; 2. The randomized clinical trial; 3. Design issues in clinical trials; 4. Special problems of trials in psychiatry; 5. Statistical issues in the analysis of psychiatric trials; 6. Analysing data from a psychiatric trial: an example; 7. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis; 8. RCTs in psychiatry: threats, challenges and the future; A. Issues in the management of clinical trials - "how to do it"; B. Writing a clinical trial report; C. Useful software for clinical trials
Mental health problems account for a quarter of all physician consultations, and place an enormous financial burden on society. For this reason, the search for effective treatments in psychiatry continues apace. But as they are developed, it is essential
1. Treatments good, bad or worthless - and how do we tell?; 2. The randomized clinical trial; 3. Design issues in clinical trials; 4. Special problems of trials in psychiatry; 5. Statistical issues in the analysis of psychiatric trials; 6. Analysing data from a psychiatric trial: an example; 7. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis; 8. RCTs in psychiatry: threats, challenges and the future; A. Issues in the management of clinical trials - "how to do it"; B. Writing a clinical trial report; C. Useful software for clinical trials