Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • The use of well controls: an unhealthy practice in psychiatric research

  • S. Schwartz, E. Susser
  • Journal:
    Psychological Medicine / Volume 41 / Issue 6 / June 2011
    Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    01 September 2010, pp. 1127-1131
  • Background

    Studies comparing cases with controls to uncover the causes of psychiatric disorders are common in biological research. The validity of these studies depends upon adherence to the methodological principles underlying the case-control design. However, these principles are often violated. One common practice that violates these principles is the use of well controls. In this paper we describe the bias that it can cause and discuss why the use of well controls leads to invalidity in case-control studies.

    Method

    Using hypothetical numerical examples we illustrate the consequences of using well controls.

    Results

    The results illustrate that the use of well controls can cause substantial bias. In no instance does the use of well controls improve validity.

    Conclusions

    We conclude that the use of well controls is an unhealthy practice in psychiatric research.