I want to me too Allen's concern regarding the admixture of observational studies and randomized controlled studies in this meta-analysis. Also, there's this:
On 2 Oct 2008 at 5:14, Allen Esterson wrote: > 2. The Abstract says there were 11 randomized controlled trials included in > the meta-analysis. I would be interested to know what these "controlled > trials" consisted of. It has always been recognized that it is very > difficult to find a means of having controls for long-term psychotherapy, > and here we are told there 11 such randomized control trials since 1960. > > > Before taking this meta-analysis seriously I would want to know if, for > each of the 11 randomized controlled studies, there was a control group who > received regular non-psychodynamic psychotherapy (or counselling) over an > equivalent period. Yes. Note that the studies were called "randomized controlled", not "placebo-controlled". I suspect that many of these may well have used no treatment as the control rather than a credible placebo condition. If so the findings are no big deal, because we've known for a long time that there's a substantial placebo effect associated with psychodynamic therapy. Psychodynamic therapy does work. It just isn't any better than a good fake treatment. And expensive. My first attempt to request a reprint failed when the e-mail request bounced back. I'm trying again with another e-mail address. Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
