Vol 2 - Iss 2 - Article - Controlled trials in bipolar disorder: A bibliometric study #87

Controlled trials in bipolar disorder: A bibliometric study Sarah Clement1, Sarah White2, Swaran P. Singh3, Tom Burns4 1. Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, London South Bank University 2. Division of Mental Health, St George’s, University of London 3. Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Warwick 4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford Author for correspondence: Dr Sarah Clement Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Faculty of Health & Social Care, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 OAA Telephone 0207 815 8029; Fax 0207 815 8099; Email clemens@lsbu.ac.uk Word count: 1421 (excluding abstract, table and references) Abstract Objectives. We aimed to provide an overview of controlled trials in bipolar disorder in terms of the types of intervention studied, the clinical problems addressed, and the sample sizes used, and to assess patterns of change over time. Methodology. Using a bibliometric approach, we surveyed entries relating to published controlled trials in bipolar disorder in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Results. There were 228 eligible entries, from 1954 to 2005. The majority of trials (84%) were pharmacological, but the proportion of pharmacological entries decreased significantly over time. Trials of other types of intervention have gradually entered the evidence base, but organisational studies remain rare (1%). The majority (56%) of the entries addressed mania, but the proportion of these trials decreased significantly over time. The number of trials addressing bipolar depression was small (5%), and there were relatively few trials involving specific clinical subgroups (13%), although this pattern appears to be changing in the most recent decade. Sample sizes ranged from 1 to 833, with a median of 37. Fifteen percent had ten or fewer participants. There was a significant increase in sample size over time. Conclusion. The pattern of trials in bipolar disorder has shown a steady widening from an earlier restricted focus on pharmacological trials, and those studying mania. There has been increasing attention to other treatments and service organisation. The increase in sample size is likely to mean fewer underpowered studies, and recent attention to bipolar depression and specific clinical subgroups suggests that research is beginning to more closely reflect the issues faced by the overall population of people with bipolar disorder. Key words. bipolar disorder, bibliometric, clinical trials, controlled trials, evidence-base, sample size Details   Price: €10.00 Options   Quantity 1 (this product is downloadable)  Add to cart

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