Methodological pitfalls in early detection studies–the NAPE Lecture 2002

Friis Svein, Larsen Tor Ketil, Ingrid Melle, Stein Opjordsmoen, Jan Olav Johannessen, Ulrik Helt Haahr, Erik Simonsen, Bjørn Rishovd Rund, Per Vaglum, Thomas McGlashan

83 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Identifies and discusses methodological pitfalls that may help explain why many questions around early detection (ED) and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) are still unsolved. This paper concentrates on pitfalls in sampling, measurement, and data analyses. The main problems seem to be: (1) Sampling: Referral bias, exclusion of patients, patient refusal, and patients lost to follow-up; (2) Measurement: Reliability, which is particularly cogent for multisite investigations, and validity including start of illness, start of psychosis, diagnoses, start of treatment, the relationship between ED and DUP and choice of outcome measures; (3) Data analyses: Overlooking threshold effects of DUP, improper control for baseline scores, and lack of control for confounders. Several of these pitfalls are unavoidable, but proper design and quality assurance can reduce their impact. Researchers ought to identify the pitfalls, and to estimate and discuss their influence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
OriginalsprogEngelsk
BogserieActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum
Vol/bind107
Sider (fra-til)3-9
Antal sider7
ISSN0065-1591
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2003

Emneord

  • confounding factors
  • early intervention
  • psychotic disorders
  • reproducibility of results
  • research

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