Attrition in trials evaluating complex interventions for schizophrenia: Systematic review and meta-analysis. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Szymczynska, P.; Walsh, S.; Greenberg, L.; Priebe, S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychiatric research. Volume 90(2017)
• Page Start: 67
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Psychosis -- Schizophrenia -- Treatment -- Attrition -- Retention -- Review; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders -- Periodicals; Maladies mentales -- Périodiques; Psychiatry; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.02.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3956

Abstract

Abstract: Essential criteria for the methodological quality and validity of randomized controlled trials are the drop-out rates from both the experimental intervention and the study as a whole. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed these drop-out rates in non-pharmacological schizophrenia trials. A systematic literature search was used to identify relevant trials with ≥100 sample size and to extract the drop-out data. The rates of drop-out from the experimental intervention and study were calculated with meta-analysis of proportions. Meta-regression was applied to explore the association between the study and sample characteristics and the drop-out rates. 43 RCTs were found, with drop-out from intervention ranging from 0% to 63% and study drop-out ranging from 4% to 71%. Meta-analyses of proportions showed an overall drop-out rate of 14% (95% CI: 13–15%) at the experimental intervention level and 20% (95% CI: 17–24%) at the study level. Meta-regression showed that the active intervention drop-out rates were predicted by the number of intervention sessions. In non-pharmacological schizophrenia trials, drop-out rates of less than 20% can be achieved for both the study and the experimental intervention. A high heterogeneity of drop-out rates across studies shows that even lower rates are achievable.