Category Archives: Meta-analyses – Systematic Reviews

This study examined the discriminant and criterion-related validity of achievement goals in predicting academic achievement. Analysis of 151 studies yielded 172 independent samples (N = 52,986) with correlations among achievement goals and between achievement goals and academic achievement. The discriminant validity of achievement goals in the 2-, 3-, and 4-factor achievement models was sound, as the correlations among achievement goals ranged from .00 to .38. Approach motivations were associated with higher academic achievement, and avoidance motivations were associated with lower …

Eating Disorders, Volume 20, Issue 3, Page 196-215, May-June 2012.

Background: For systematic reviews providing evidence for policy decisions in specific geographicalregions, there is a need to minimise regional bias when seeking out relevant research studies.Studies on people’s views tend to be dispersed across a range of bibliographic databases andother search sources. It is recognised that a comprehensive literature search can provideunique evidence not found from a focused search; however, the geographical focus ofdatabases as a potential source of bias on the findings of a research review is less clear. …

Methods to calculate bias-adjusted estimates for meta-analyses are becoming more popular. The objective of this paper is to use the structural approach to bias and causal diagrams to show that (i) the current use of the bias-adjusted estimating tools may sometimes introduce bias rather than reduce it and (ii) the Cochrane collaboration risk of bias tool, which was designed for randomized studies, is also applicable to non-randomized studies with only minimal changes. Causal diagrams are used to illustrate each of …

Background Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and separation anxiety symptoms (SA) have been studied both epidemiologically and genetically; however, large between-studies discrepancies emerge relative to the role of genetic, shared-, and nonshared environmental influences on these conditions. Methods Based upon available literature, 18 cohorts and 31,859 subjects belonging to twin samples in Europe, the United States, and Australia were included in three meta-analytic estimations of: the standardized variance components of etiological influences on SAD/SA, and on the effect of sex and …

The effects of stress management interventions among police officers and recruits

Abstract   To inform the development of multilevel strategies for addressing HIV risk among labor migrants, 97 articles from the health and social science literatures were systematically reviewed. The study locations were Africa (23 %), the Americas (26 %), Europe (7 %), South East Asia (21 %), and Western Pacific (24 %). Among the studies meeting inclusion criteria, HIV risk was associated with multilevel determinants at the levels of policy, sociocultural context, health and mental health, and sexual practices. The policy …

Background: The standardisation of the assessment methodology and case definition represents a major precondition for the comparison of study results and the conduction of meta-analyses. International guidelines provide recommendations for the standardisation of falls methodology; however, injurious falls have not been targeted. The aim of the present article was to review systematically the range of case definitions and methods used to measure and report on injurious falls in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on fall prevention. Methods: An electronic literature search …

W. G. Cochran’s Q statistic was introduced in 1937 to test for equality of means under heteroscedasticity. Today, the use of Q is widespread in tests for homogeneity of effects in meta-analysis, but often these effects (such as risk differences and odds ratios) are not normally distributed. It is common to assume that Q follows a chi-square distribution, but it has long been known that this asymptotic distribution for Q is not accurate for moderate sample sizes. In this paper, …

Abstract: Background: In Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) current standard pharmacotherapies may be of limited efficacy. Non-conventional interventions such as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), self-help techniques, and lifestyle interventions are commonly used by sufferers of OCD, however to date no systematic review of this specific area exists.Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies using CAM, self-help, and lifestyle interventions for treatment of OCD and trichotillomania (TTM). PubMed, PsycINFO, China Academic Journals Full-text Database, The Cochrane Library and CINAHL were …

Abstract To advance research evaluating the relationship between social information processing (Crick & Dodge) and youth aggression, this meta-analytic study examined associations between social goals and aggression in children in 21 separate research reports. Eligible studies provided descriptive or preintervention measurement of children’s aggression and social goals, and were reported in English by March 1, 2010. Findings from two random-effects meta-analyses utilizing clustered data analysis techniques (i.e., effect sizes nested within samples) supported an expected (1) negative association between prosocial …

A Meta-Analysis of Spurious Associations between Type D Personality and Cardiovascular Disease Endpoints Content Type Journal Article Category Letter to the Editor Pages 1-2 DOI 10.1007/s12160-012-9356-7 Authors Jacob N. de Voogd, Health Psychology Section, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands Robbert Sanderman, Health Psychology Section, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands James C. Coyne, Health Psychology Section, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center …

ABSTRACT   The sixth column on Evidence-Based Behavioral Medicine is focused on Plassman et al.’s (Ann Internal Med 153:182–193, 2010) systematic review on factors associated with risk for and prevention of cognitive decline among the elderly. A total of 250 studies were included in the final analyses. Cognitive training was most consistently and negatively associated with cognitive decline. Evidence was largely consistent across observational and randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies. Other factors, such as physical activity, some healthy nutritional patterns, and …

Abstract   Theory predicts that if particular morphological features correlate with “genetic” quality—i.e., mating with individuals bearing those characteristics increases fitness—selection favors preferences for these features. Both developmental instability (DI)—which emerges morphologically as small random deviations from perfect symmetry, i.e., fluctuating asymmetry (FA)—and sexually dimorphic traits due to variation in sex hormones, like facial masculinity and digit ratios, may reflect mate quality and/or relate to attractiveness. Therefore, FA and morphological expressions of sex hormones may represent interrelated measures/signals of individual quality. …

Abstract   To systematically review the literature on the relationship between early childhood low income/socioeconomic status (SES) and physical health in later childhood/adolescence, to identify gaps in the literature and to suggest new avenues for research. A systematic search of electronic databases from their start date to November 2011 was conducted to identify prospective longitudinal studies in industrialized countries with a measure of low income/SES in the first 5 years of life and physical health outcomes in later childhood or adolescence. STROBE …

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions to combat diarrhoea among children in developing countries: systematic review of effectiveness and sustainability

Abstract   Many children in developing countries are at risk of emotional and behavioral difficulties, which are likely to be elevated due to the effects of poverty. Parenting programs have shown to be effective preventative strategies in high-income countries, but to date the research on their effectiveness in lower-income countries is limited. International organizations such as the World Health Organization have called for the implementation of programs to prevent behavioral difficulties through the development of stable relationships between children and their …

Background: Allied Health Professionals today are required, more than ever before, to demonstrate theimpact of their practice. However, despite at least 20 years of expectation, many services failto deliver routine outcome measurement in practice. This systematic review investigates whathelps and hinders routine outcome measurement of allied health professionals practice. Methods: A systematic review protocol was developed comprising: a defined search strategy forPsycINFO, MEDLINE and CINHAL databases and inclusion criteria and systematicprocedures for data extraction and quality appraisal. Studies were included …

International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, Volume 11, Issue 1, Page 33-50, January-March 2012.

ABSTRACT Aims:   To review the transparency of reports of behavioral interventions for pathological gambling and other gambling-related disorders. Methods:   We used the Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs (TREND) Statement to develop the 59-question Adapted TREND Questionnaire (ATQ). Each ATQ question corresponds to a transparency guideline and asks how clearly a study reports its objectives, research design, analytic methods, and conclusions. A subset of 23 ATQ questions is considered particularly important. We searched PubMed, PsychINFO, and Web …

Abstract   Infant development plays a foundational role in optimal child development and health. Some studies have demonstrated an association between maternal psychological distress and infant outcomes, although the main emphasis has been on postpartum depression and infant-maternal attachment. Prevention and early intervention strategies would benefit from an understanding of the influence of both prenatal and postpartum maternal distress on a broader spectrum of infant developmental outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of studies assessing the effect of prenatal and postpartum …

Clinical observations have suggested that children who experience physical or sexual abuse may provide indicators in their drawings that can distinguish them from nonabused children. Some have even suggested that a child’s drawings and the interpretive testimony of a trained mental health clinician should be admissible in court as evidence of a child’s abuse status. Many of these comments, however, may reflect a limited consideration of the available research. The current article provides a comprehensive literature review of the controlled …

Abstract   To examine effects between stressors and coping mechanisms on behavioral health outcomes a meta-analysis was conducted using forty empirical articles which sampled 7,602 adult women living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. (M = 36.3 years). Three independent reviewers conducted searches in abstract databases from 1997 to present day. Articles reporting effect sizes amongst psychosocial stressors and coping mechanisms with indices of behavioral/mental health were selected. The meta-analyses revealed that in a time frame characterized by the widespread availability of anti-retroviral medication, poor …

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is widespread. Several risk factors are associated with IPV perpetuation, including alcohol use and educational level. The aggression and violence associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) suggest that brain trauma may also be a risk factor for IPV. To examine the association between TBI and IPV, the authors conducted a meta-analysis of peer-reviewed published studies reporting the prevalence of TBI in IPV perpetrators. The authors compared the frequency of TBI among IPV perpetuators to estimates of …

Abstract: Objective: Children of cancer patients have an increased risk of developing psychosocial problems. But not all children are alike vulnerable to this stressful event. Thus, knowledge of risk and protective factors is required to design specific diagnostic tools and interventions for this vulnerable population. This study aims to provide a review and methodological evaluation of current studies examining factors associated with children’s psychosocial adjustment when a parent has cancer.Methods: Four databases were systematically searched for quantitative research articles examining …

Objective To provide a meta-analysis of research that has examined the cognitive functioning of children and adults with cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), and cleft lip and palate (CLP). Methods Data from 29 studies, which compared persons with a cleft to a control group on tests of cognitive functioning, were analyzed. The data were obtained from 1,546 persons with cleft and 279,805 controls. Results Participants with a cleft performed significantly worse on 7 cognitive domains. However, the only moderate and significant deficit, which was …

AIDS Care, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-12, Ahead of Print.

Abstract Aims:  Family history of alcohol use problems is a reliable determinant of alcohol use and problems in the population at large, but findings are inconsistent when this issue is examined in college and university students. No quantitative summary of this literature has been reported to date. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis on the effects of family history on substance use and abuse in college and university students. Design:  A two-group contrast meta-analysis was conducted …

Conclusions Promotion of physical activity to sedentary adults recruited in primary care significantly increases physical activity levels at 12 months, as measured by self report. We found insufficient evidence to recommend exercise referral schemes over advice or counselling interventions. Primary care commissioners should consider these findings while awaiting further trial evaluation of exercise referral schemes and other primary care interventions, with longer follow-up and use of objective measures of outcome.

Evidence suggests that adverse experiences in childhood are associated with psychosis. To examine the association between childhood adversity and trauma (sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, neglect, parental death, and bullying) and psychosis outcome, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and Web of Science were searched from January 1980 through November 2011. We included prospective cohort studies, large-scale cross-sectional studies investigating the association between childhood adversity and psychotic symptoms or illness, case-control studies comparing the prevalence of adverse events between psychotic patients and …

International Journal of Psychology, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-10, Ahead of Print.

Aging & Mental Health, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-13, Ahead of Print.

Background: The prevalence of type II diabetes among individuals suffering from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders is more than double that of the general population. By 2005, North American professional medical associations of Psychiatry, Diabetes, and Endocrinology responded by recommending continuous metabolic monitoring for this population to control complications from obesity and diabetes. However, these recommendations do not identify the types of effective treatment for people with schizophrenia who have type II diabetes. To fill this gap, this systematic evidence review …

Background: Quality indicators (QIs) are used in many healthcare settings to measure, compare, and improve quality of care. For the efficient development of high-quality QIs, rigorous, approved, and evidence-based development methods are needed. Clinical practice guidelines are a suitable source to derive QIs from, but no gold standard for guideline-based QI development exists. This review aims to identify, describe, and compare methodological approaches to guideline-based QI development. Methods: We systematically searched medical literature databases (Medline, EMBASE, and CINAHL) and grey …

Community-oriented policing to reduce crime, disorder and fear and increase legitimacy and citizen satisfaction in neighborhoods

Broken windows policing to reduce crime in neighborhoods

Background: Integrated treatment programs (those that include on-site pregnancy-, parenting-, or child-related services with addiction services) were developed to break the intergenerational cycle of addiction, dysfunctional parenting, and poor outcomes for mothers and children, yet there has been no systematic review of studies of parenting outcomes.ObjectivesAs part of larger systematic review to examine the effectiveness of integrated programs for mothers with substance abuse issues, we performed a systematic review of studies published from 1990 to 2011 with data on parenting …

Training programs to improve attitudes, behaviours and skills of police officers regarding democratic values, civil rights, and human rights and to reduce unlawful use of force by police officers

New Derry CJ, Derry S, Moore RA Caffeine is commonly used as a component in pain-relieving medicines available from pharmacies without a prescription. An adjuvant is something that is added to a medicine to make it work better. This review examined whether caffeine improves the pain-relieving effects of such medicines; studies evaluated focused on several pain conditions, including headache, post-dental pain, postoperative pain following childbirth, and menstrual period pain. The review found that adding caffeine, at a dose equivalent to …

Vancampfort D, Vansteelandt K, Scheewe T, Probst M, Knapen J, De Herdt A, De Hert M. Yoga in schizophrenia: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Objective:  The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary treatment on general psychopathology, positive and negative symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQL) for people with schizophrenia. Method:  Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were considered whether they investigated a yoga intervention in patients with schizophrenia. The selection …

Updated Bjelakovic G, Nikolova D, Gluud LL, Simonetti RG, Gluud C Previous research on animal and physiological models suggests that antioxidant supplements have beneficial effects that may prolong life. Some observational studies also suggest that antioxidant supplements may prolong life, whereas other observational studies demonstrate neutral or harmful effects. Our Cochrane review from 2008 demonstrated that antioxidant supplements seem to increase mortality. This review is now updated. The present systematic review included 78 randomised clinical trials. In total, 296,707 participants …

A meta-analysis of 35 studies found that social class (socioeconomic status) is related to social integration among students in higher education: Working-class students are less integrated than middle-class students. This relation generalized across students’ gender and year of study, as well as type of social class measure (parental education and parental income). However, type of social integration measure was a significant moderator. In particular, the social subscale of the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire obtained the largest effect (r = …

Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-13, Ahead of Print.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of evidence produced by studies of the chronic care model (CCM). Study Design: Systematic review using a grading system in which grades are assigned on the basis of the hierarchy of evidence, study limitations, and analytical attempts to mitigate limitations. Data Collection: Systematic literature search yielding 159 published studies, of which 28 met inclusion criteria. Principal Findings: Of the 28 studies, 14.3% were graded as “A” or “A-,” 14.3% as “B,” 7.1% as “C-,” and …

Objective To examine the effectiveness of current community-based participatory research (CBPR) clinical trials involving racial and ethnic minorities. Data Source All published peer-reviewed CBPR intervention articles in PubMed and CINAHL databases from January 2003 to May 2010. Study Design We performed a systematic literature review. Data Collection/Extraction Methods Data were extracted on each study’s characteristics, community involvement in research, subject recruitment and retention, and intervention effects. Principle Findings We found 19 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Of these, 14 were published …

Effects of drug substitution programs on offending among drug-addicts

Effectiveness of adult employment assistance services for persons with autism spectrum disorders

Background Population-based studies of psychopathology are important in childhood epilepsy given that there is a spectrum of severity with regard to the impact of epilepsy and associated behavioural/psychiatric difficulties. Method Population-based studies in childhood epilepsy which have focused on global measures of psychopathology and rates of specific behavioural and psychiatric disorders were reviewed with respect to prevalence of disorders and possible correlates of difficulties. Clinic-based studies and meta-analyses were reviewed where they added to an understanding of the correlates or …

Individuals’ perceptions of their own level of cognitive ability are expressed through self-estimates. They play an important role in a person’s self-concept because they facilitate an understanding of how one’s own abilities relate to those of others. People evaluate their own and other persons’ abilities all the time, but self-estimates are also used in formal settings, such as, for instance, career counseling. We examine the relationship between self-estimated and psychometrically measured cognitive ability by conducting a random-effects, multilevel meta-analysis including …

Abstract While the global number of resettled refugees rises annually, the summaries of research on refugee health needs in countries of asylum remain sparse. We conducted a systematic review of published research on refugee health in Canada in order to: (i) identify studies addressing health outcomes among refugees recently resettled in Canada; (ii) identify general trends in health research conducted in Canada among refugee populations; (iii) identify significant gaps in current knowledge of health-related issues among refugees recently resettled in …

Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, Volume 5, Issue 1, Page 16-32, January-March 2012.

Abstract: The treatment of bipolar depression is one of the most challenging issues in contemporary psychiatry. Currently only quetiapine and the olanzapine–fluoxetine combination are officially approved by the FDA against this condition. The neurobiology of bipolar depression and the possible targets of bipolar antidepressant therapy remain relatively elusive. We performed a complete and systematic review to identify agents with definite positive or negative results concerning efficacy followed by a second systematic review to identify the pharmacodynamic properties of these agents. …

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims at assessing the composition and performance of care management models evaluated in the last decade and their impact on patient important outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of electronic bibliographic databases was performed to identify care management trials in type 2 diabetes. Random effects meta-analysis was used when feasible to pool outcome measures. Results: Fifty-two studies were eligible. Most commonly reported were surrogate outcomes (such as HbA1c and LDL), followed by process measures …

Unprecedented numbers of children experience parental incarceration worldwide. Families and children of prisoners can experience multiple difficulties after parental incarceration, including traumatic separation, loneliness, stigma, confused explanations to children, unstable childcare arrangements, strained parenting, reduced income, and home, school, and neighborhood moves. Children of incarcerated parents often have multiple, stressful life events before parental incarceration. Theoretically, children with incarcerated parents may be at risk for a range of adverse behavioral outcomes. A systematic review was conducted to synthesize empirical evidence …

This article reports on a systematic review to assess the efficacy and clinical effectiveness of group analysis and analytic/dynamic (A/D) group psychotherapy. Systematic literature searches were undertaken; 34 primary studies and 19 reviews met the inclusion criteria and their data was extracted. Of the primary studies, the randomized controlled trials provided evidence for the efficacy and clinical effectiveness of group therapy approaches in a range of clinical problems, but not for specific benefits of any particular theoretical approach. The controlled …

Abstract Aims:  Aims: A growing literature has documented the substantial prevalence of and putative mechanisms underlying co-occurring (i.e., concurrent or simultaneous) cannabis and tobacco use. Greater understanding of the clinical correlates of co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use may suggest how intervention strategies may be refined to improve cessation outcomes and decrease the public health burden associated with cannabis and tobacco use. Methods:  A systematic review of the literature on clinical diagnoses, psychosocial problems, and outcomes associated with co-occurring cannabis and …

Background: Many patients with chronic illness are limited in their physical activities. This systematic review evaluates the content and format of patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires that measure physical activity in elderly and chronically ill populations. Methods: Questionnaires were identified by a systematic literature search of electronic databases (Medline, Embase, PsychINFO & CINAHL), hand searches (reference sections and PROQOLID database) and expert input. A qualitative analysis was conducted to assess the content and format of the questionnaires and a Venn diagram …

Background: Stigma and discrimination present an important barrier to finding and keeping work for individuals with a mental health problem. This paper reviews evidence on: 1) employment-related disclosure beliefs and behaviours of people with a mental health problem; 2) factors associated with the disclosure of a mental health problem in the employment setting; 3) whether employers are less likely to hire applicants who disclose a mental health problem; and 4) factors influencing employers’ hiring beliefs and behaviours towards job applicants …

In random-effects model meta-analysis, the conventional DerSimonian–Laird (DL) estimator typically underestimates the between-trial variance. Alternative variance estimators have been proposed to address this bias. This study aims to empirically compare statistical inferences from random-effects model meta-analyses on the basis of the DL estimator and four alternative estimators, as well as distributional assumptions (normal distribution and t-distribution) about the pooled intervention effect. We evaluated the discrepancies of p-values, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in statistically significant meta-analyses, and the degree (percentage) of …

Updated Essali A, Ali G A significant proportion of the world’s growing elderly population suffers from schizophrenia that started very late in life. Antipsychotic drugs are often used to treat this distressing and severe illness. In this review we attempted to find good quality trial-based evidence to support this practice but found none. Currently this vulnerable group is not well served by the research community.

Abstract: Introduction: Chronic insomnia, a public health crisis affecting 10–15% of the U.S. population and costing billions of dollars annually, typically presents with one or more comorbid psychiatric or organic conditions. Historical classification of chronic insomnia as “secondary” to a presenting comorbid condition has resulted in under-recognition and under-treatment of both the insomnia and comorbid condition(s). Though critical in any model of comorbid disease management, chronic insomnia receives little, if any, public policy attention.Method: We conducted a systematic review of …

A review of research that uses behavioral, electroencephalographic, and/or magnetoencephalographic methods to investigate auditory processing deficits in individuals with dyslexia is presented. Findings show that measures of frequency, rise time, and duration discrimination as well as amplitude modulation and frequency modulation detection were most often impaired in individuals with dyslexia. Less consistent findings were found for intensity and gap perception. Additional factors that mediate auditory processing deficits in individuals with dyslexia and their implications are discussed.

Background: Reliable suicide statistics are a prerequisite for suicide monitoring and prevention. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of suicide statistics through a systematic review of the international literature. Methods: We searched for relevant publications in EMBASE, Ovid Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library up to October 2010. In addition, we screened related studies and reference lists of identified studies. We included studies published in English, German, French, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish that assessed …

Abstract   There is abundant literature on the birth outcomes of women of Mexican origin living in the United States, but in most cases it does not refer to data available in Mexico. We conducted a systematic review of available data regarding low birthweight (LBW) rates in Mexico. We searched official online Mexican administrative data bases and four literature databases: OVID (Global Health), EMBASE, PubMed, and Bireme. The following inclusion criteria were used: (1) study is in English, Spanish, or Portuguese; …

Background: Mass media depictions of people with mental illness have a strong influence on public attitudes, to the extent that changes in these depictions can reduce public stigmatization of people with such illness. Journalists’ mental health may influence their depiction of those with mental illness, but little is known about this. Aims: To investigate mental illness among journalists in five key areas: (1) journalists’ mental health status; (2) journalists’ personal attitudes towards mental illness; (3) attitudes and support journalists expect …

Abstract Purpose   The review aimed to (1) identify measures that assess the recovery orientation of services; (2) discuss how these measures have conceptualised recovery, and (3) characterise their psychometric properties. Methods   A systematic review was undertaken using seven sources. The conceptualisation of recovery within each measure was investigated by rating items against a conceptual framework of recovery comprising five recovery processes: connectedness; hope and optimism; identity; meaning and purpose; and empowerment. Psychometric properties of measures were evaluated using quality criteria. …

Context  The US Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning for antidepressants and suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and young adults. Objective  To determine the short-term safety of antidepressants by standard assessments of suicidal thoughts and behavior in youth, adult, and geriatric populations and the mediating effect of changes in depressive symptoms. Data Sources  All intent-to-treat person-level longitudinal data of major depressive disorder from 12 adult, 4 geriatric, and 4 youth randomized controlled trials of fluoxetine hydrochloride …

Aging & Mental Health, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-13, Ahead of Print.

Effects of drug courts on criminal offending and drug use

Abstract: Objective: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to characterise patients’ own experience of colonoscopy in the screening context.Methods: A search strategy was applied in MEDLINE, EMBASE and PSYCHinfo (1996–2009). Thematic analysis and narrative summary techniques were used.Results: Fifty-six studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. Seven studies examined patients’ views after having colonoscopy. Forty-seven studies addressed patient-reported barriers to an anticipated primary colonoscopy. Most patients perceived the laxative bowel preparation to be the most …

Psychology, Health & Medicine, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-16, Ahead of Print.

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-16, Ahead of Print.

Abstract: Objective: To systematically review the latent structure of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted across Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, PsycInfo and EmBase databases spanning articles published between May 2000 and May 2010. Studies conducting latent variable analysis of the HADS were included.Results: Twenty-five of the 50 reviewed studies revealed a two-factor structure, the most commonly found HADS structure. Additionally, five studies revealed unidimensional, 17 studies revealed three-factor, and …

Abstract   The purpose of the present study is to review empirical evidence of the effects of interventions designed to improve engagement in mental health services among adolescents, young adults and their families. Investigators searched relevant databases, prior reviews, and conducted hand searches for intervention studies that met the following criteria: (1) examined engagement in mental health services; (2) included a comparison condition; and (3) focused on adolescents and/or young adults. Effect sizes for all reported outcomes were calculated. Thirteen studies …

Aging & Mental Health, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-18, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Development Effectiveness, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-25, Ahead of Print.

Abstract   Functional analysis procedures have been revolutionary in the field of applied behavior analysis. Their ability to identify the contingencies maintaining problem behavior has allowed clinicians to develop function-based treatments and minimised the use of aversive procedures to reduce problem behavior. However, limitations including their time consuming nature, the expertise they require, their unsuitability for certain settings and types of behavior, and their reinforcement of the problem behavior, often preclude their use in applied settings. Several alternative types of functional …

Al-Jumah KA, Qureshi NA

Abstract: Background: People suffering from dementia are particularly vulnerable to the gaps between the health and social service systems. Case management is a professional field that seeks to fill in these gaps and remedy this fragmentation.Methods: We report the results of a systematic literature review of the impact of case management programs on clinical outcomes and the utilization of resources by persons with dementia. We focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and attempted to identify the factors that might contribute …

Background: Cannabis intoxication is related to a number of physical and mental health risks with ensuing social costs. However, little attention has been given to the investigation of possible pharmacological interactions in this condition. Objective: To review the available scientific literature concerning pharmacological interventions for the treatment of the acute effects of cannabis. Methods: A search was performed on the Pubmed, Lilacs, and Scielo online databases by combining the terms cannabis, intoxication, psychosis, anxiety, and treatment. The articles selected from …

Conclusions As the existing evidence from clinical trials is of low quality, the efficacy and tolerability of drugs commonly prescribed for the management of sciatica in primary care is unclear.

Background: The safety of paediatric medications is paramount and contraindications provide clear pragmatic advice. Further advice may be accessed through Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPCs) and relevant national guidelines. The SPC can be considered the ultimate independent guideline and is regularly updated. In 2008, the authors undertook a systematic review of the SPC contraindications of medications licensed in the United Kingdom (UK) for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). At that time, there were fewer contraindications reported in …

Objectives. To review and synthesize the evidence on first-generation antipsychotics (FGA) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) for the treatment of various psychiatric and behavioral conditions in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages ≤ 24 years).

Background: Decision makers in many jurisdictions use cost-effectiveness estimates as an aid for selecting interventions with an appropriate balance between health benefits and costs. This systematic literature review aims to provide an overview of published cost-effectiveness models in major depressive disorder (MDD) with a focus on the methods employed. Key components of the identified models are discussed and any challenges in developing models are highlighted. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed to identify all primary model-based economic evaluations of …

Abstract   To investigate the link between attachment to parents and delinquency, and the potential moderating effects of age and sex, 74 published and unpublished manuscripts (N = 55,537 participants) were subjected to a multilevel meta-analysis. A mean small to moderate effect size was found (r = 0.18). Poor attachment to parents was significantly linked to delinquency in boys and girls. Stronger effect sizes were found for attachment to mothers than attachment to fathers. In addition, stronger effect sizes were found if the child and …

Samamé C, Martino DJ, Strejilevich SA. Social cognition in euthymic bipolar disorder: systematic review and meta-analytic approach. Objective:  Deficits in social cognition have been reported in euthymic subjects with bipolar disorder (BD). However, some studies have failed to find differences favoring controls. As most investigations have been conducted with small samples, they have not had sufficient power to detect statistically significant differences. Furthermore, studies communicating positive results have scarcely attempted to estimate effect sizes for patient–control differences. The aim of …

A review of 13 years of research into antecedents of university students’ grade point average (GPA) scores generated the following: a comprehensive, conceptual map of known correlates of tertiary GPA; assessment of the magnitude of average, weighted correlations with GPA; and tests of multivariate models of GPA correlates within and across research domains. A systematic search of PsycINFO and Web of Knowledge databases between 1997 and 2010 identified 7,167 English-language articles yielding 241 data sets, which reported on 50 conceptually …

Abstract   Medical and demographic characteristics and psychological morbidity of individuals with cancer prior to a psychosocial intervention can influence the efficacy of interventions. However, little is known about the moderating role of patients’ psychosocial characteristics on intervention effects. This review sought to identify and synthesize the impacts of psychosocial moderators of the effect of psychosocial interventions on the psychological well-being of cancer patients. A systematic review of the published literature was conducted. Databases searched included PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, …

The continuously growing demand for program results has produced an increased need for evaluation capacity building (ECB). The Integrative ECB Model was developed to integrate concepts from existing ECB theory literature and to structure a synthesis of the empirical ECB literature. The study used a broad-based research synthesis method with systematic decision rules and demonstrates the viability of the method for producing a reliable analysis of disparate data from a variety of designs. There was a high degree of consistency …

This meta-analysis investigates the practical significance of the Student Success Skills (SSS) program on student achievement. Each study involved the SSS intervention, math and reading scores, at least one treatment and comparison group, and a certified school counselor. The sample involved students (n = 1,279) in Grades 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Overall effect sizes for math (.41), reading (.17), and the SSS program (.29) were determined. New guidelines for interpreting the results are introduced.

Objective The aim of this meta-analysis was to provide an up-to-date review of the literature to enhance our understanding of how chronic health conditions (CHCs) affect siblings, both positively and negatively. Methods PsycINFO and Medline were systematically searched. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) peer-reviewed, empirical research report; (b) sample n ≥ 10; and (c) reports statistics on siblings’ internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and/or positive self-attributes. Results Overall, there was a significant small negative effect of CHCs on siblings (d+ = −.10). Siblings of children with CHCs had more …

Critical appraisal involves interpreting information, in particular information within research papers, in a systematic and objective manner. This review looked at whether teaching critical appraisal skills to health professionals led to changes in processes of care, patient outcomes, health professionals’ knowledge of how to critically appraise research papers, or all three. The review found that teaching critical appraisal skills to health professionals may improve their knowledge. However, there was a lack of good quality evidence as to whether teaching critical …

Abstract Purpose   This systematic review was conducted to identify generic health related quality of life (HRQL) measures translated into Arabic, and evaluate their cross-cultural adaptation and measurement properties. Methods   Six databases were searched, relevant journals were hand searched, and reference lists of included studies were reviewed. Previously established criteria were used to evaluate the cross-cultural adaptation of the identified instruments and their measurement properties. Results   Twenty studies that reported the Arabic translations and adaptations of HRQL measures and/or their measurement …

This article describes the context for commissioning a systematic review into the effectiveness of group analytic and psychodynamic group therapies, and sets out an argument for supporting and promoting research within group analysis.

The systematic review undertaken for the Group Analytic Community by Sheffield University is an excellent piece of work ‘of its time’, but it may not speak to everybody in the field. Some of the reasons for this are the precise methodology of such reviews, concerned with an exclusively rationalist model for selecting and appraising evidence in a framework, which excludes other schools of thought (particularly the social sciences, including critical theory, anthropology and economics). As many of those who work …

People with serious mental illness have worse physical health than the general population. People with serious mental illness also have a greater risk of experiencing oral disease and have greater oral treatment needs than the general population. In people with serious mental illness, poor oral and dental health can contribute to increasing the risk of physical health problems particularly heart diseases.This review looks at whether giving advice about oral health has any effect in improving the oral health of people …

Mind-body interventions like yoga or hypnotherapy may be effective for reducing anxiety. These can be learned to induce mental relaxation and alter negative thinking related to anxiety to change the perception of a stressful event, leading to better adapted behaviour and coping skills. Their effectiveness for treatment or prevention of women’s anxiety during pregnancy needs to be confirmed in clinical trials, as anxiety during the different stages of pregnancy can affect women’s health and have consequences for the child. This …