Norman Sussman1. 1. NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. sussman01@aol.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psychiatrists and other clinicians make decisions about antidepressant medications with little understanding on how to interpret the research literature. METHODS: Pertinent clinical literature is reviewed. RESULTS: The author reviews levels of evidence, study design, statistical significance, p values, defining outcomes, drop outs, and basic analytic strategies such as last observation carried forward and mixed-effects model repeated measures. Several recent clinical trials are dissected to illustrate these concepts. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians need to develop greater sophistication at interpreting research findings. No single study is definitive, and comparative antidepressant trials suffer from low statistical power.
BACKGROUND: Psychiatrists and other clinicians make decisions about antidepressant medications with little understanding on how to interpret the research literature. METHODS: Pertinent clinical literature is reviewed. RESULTS: The author reviews levels of evidence, study design, statistical significance, p values, defining outcomes, drop outs, and basic analytic strategies such as last observation carried forward and mixed-effects model repeated measures. Several recent clinical trials are dissected to illustrate these concepts. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians need to develop greater sophistication at interpreting research findings. No single study is definitive, and comparative antidepressant trials suffer from low statistical power.
Authors: des Anges Cruser; Sarah K Brown; Jessica R Ingram; Alan L Podawiltz; Bruce D Dubin; John S Colston; Robert J Bulik Journal: Osteopath Med Prim Care Date: 2010-07-08