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Mean Effect Size (mean + effect_size)
Selected AbstractsCognitive training in Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis of the literatureACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2006D. I. Sitzer Objective:, To systematically review the literature and summarize the effect of cognitive training (CT) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients on multiple functional domains. Method:, Effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated for 17 controlled studies identified through a comprehensive literature review. Results:, An overall effect size of 0.47 was observed for all CT strategies across all measured outcomes. Mean effect sizes were higher for restorative (0.54) than for compensatory (0.36) strategies. Domain-specific effect sizes ranged from 2.16 (verbal and visual learning) to ,0.38 (visuospatial functioning). Data are also presented on the relative impact of restorative and compensatory strategies for each domain of functioning. Conclusion:, CT evidenced promise in the treatment of AD, with primarily medium effect sizes for learning, memory, executive functioning, activities of daily living, general cognitive problems, depression, and self-rated general functioning. Restorative strategies demonstrated the greatest overall effect on functioning. Several limitations of the published literature are discussed. [source] Augmentation of clozapine with a second antipsychotic , a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled studiesACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2009D. M. Taylor Objective:, Inadequate response to clozapine treatment is frequently encountered in practice and augmentation strategies have been developed in an attempt to improve response. Aims of the study were to evaluate the therapeutic effect of adding an antipsychotic drug to clozapine treatment. Method:, Meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled studies of antipsychotic augmentation of clozapine treatment. Results:, Ten studies (including 522 subjects) met inclusion criteria. Antipsychotic augmentation showed significant benefit over the addition of placebo on only one outcome measure examined [mean effect size for rating scale score (BPRS/PANSS) ,0.180, 95% CI ,0.356 to ,0.004]. Antipsychotic augmentation showed no advantage on withdrawals from trials (risk ratio 1.261, 95% CI 0.679,2.345) or on CGI scores (effect size ,0.661, 95% CI ,1.475 to 0.151). Duration of study was not associated with outcome (P = 0.95). There was no evidence of publication bias. Conclusion:, In studies lasting up to 16 weeks, the addition of an antipsychotic to clozapine treatment has marginal therapeutic benefit. Longer and larger trials are necessary to demonstrate the precise therapeutic utility of antipsychotic co-therapy with clozapine. [source] A meta-analysis of serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA and antisocial behaviorAGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 4 2002Todd M. Moore Abstract During the past 25 years, researchers have examined the relationship between neurochemical variables and antisocial behavior in human adults, but none has been studied more intensely than the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). The goal of the current study was to employ meta-analytic procedures to quantitatively evaluate selected evidence on the relationship between 5-HIAA and antisocial behavior. It was expected that antisocial groups would show reduced cerebrospinal fluid 5-HIAA compared with non,antisocial groups. This study also aimed to assess moderators that could influence the relationship between 5-HIAA and antisociality. An electronic search and strict inclusion criteria identified 20 reports used in this meta-analysis. Results showed a significant overall mean effect size (ES = ,.45, P < .05) in the direction of lowered 5-HIAA in antisocial vs. non,antisocial groups. A significant moderating effect for age indicated that groups comprised of antisocial individuals younger than 30 years exhibited larger negative effect sizes (ES = ,1.37, P < .05) than groups with older subjects (ES = ,.31, P < .05). There were no moderating effects for gender, target of violence, history of suicide, and alcoholism. Age effects may help explain age-related declines in crime. The fact that effects did not differ based on other moderating variables supports models of reduced serotonin in antisocial individuals, regardless of type of crime or psychiatric problems. Aggr. Behav. 28:299,316, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The ontogeny of cross-sex genetic correlations: an analysis of patternsJOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2009J. POISSANT Abstract The independent evolution of males and females is typically constrained by shared genetic variance. Despite substantial research, we still know little about the evolution of cross-sex genetic covariance and its standardized measure, the cross-sex genetic correlation (rMF). In particular, it is unclear if rMF tend to vary with age. We compiled 28 traits for which ontogenetic trends in rMF were documented. Decreases in rMF with age were observed significantly more often than increases and the mean effect size for the relationship between rMF and age was large and negative. This suggests that sexual dimorphism (SD) may typically evolve more readily for phenotypes expressed later in ontogeny and that evolutionary inferences related to the evolution of SD should be limited to the ontogenetic stage at which rMF was estimated. Knowledge about ontogenetic variation in rMF should help improving our understanding of evolutionary patterns related to SD and the resolution of intralocus sexual conflicts. [source] Cognitive-existential group psychotherapy for women with primary breast cancer: A randomised controlled trialPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2003David W. Kissane Background. We conducted a randomised, controlled trial of cognitive-existential group therapy (CEGT) for women with early stage breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with the aim of improving mood and mental attitude to cancer. Methods. Women were randomised to 20 sessions of weekly group therapy plus 3 relaxation classes or to a control arm receiving 3 relaxation classes. Assessments, independently done at baseline, 6 and 12 months, included a structured psychiatric interview and validated questionnaires covering mood, attitudes to cancer, family relationships, and satisfaction with therapy. Results. Three hundred and three of 491 (62%) eligible patients participated over 3 years. Distress was high pre-intervention: 10% were diagnosed as suffering from major depression, 27% from minor depression and 9% from anxiety disorders. On an intention-to-treat analysis, there was a trend for those receiving group therapy (n=154) to have reduced anxiety (p=0.05, 2-sided) compared to controls (n=149). Women in group therapy also showed a trend towards improved family functioning compared to controls (p=0.07, 2-sided). The women in the groups reported greater satisfaction with their therapy (p<0.001, 2-sided), appreciating the support and citing better coping, self-growth and increased knowledge about cancer and its treatment. They valued the CEGT therapy. Overall effect size for the group intervention was small (d=0.25), with cancer recurrence having a deleterious effect in three of the 19 therapy groups. Psychologists as a discipline achieved a moderate mean effect size (d=0.52). Conclusion. CEGT is a useful adjuvant psychological therapy for women with early stage breast cancer. Interaction effects between group members and therapists are relevant to outcome. Group-as-a-whole effects are powerful, but the training and experience of the therapist is especially critical to an efficacious outcome. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Homework Assignments in Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy: A Meta-AnalysisCLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2000Nikolaos Kazantzis This meta-analysis (27 studies, N= 1702) examined (a) the effects of homework assignments on treatment outcome and (b) the relationship between homework compliance and therapy outcome. Results of the primary meta-analyses indicated a weighted mean effect size (r) of .36 for homework effects and .22 for homework compliance. A moderator analysis (chosen on a priori grounds) was also conducted by partitioning the sample of effect size estimations first according to the sample problem type, according to the type of homework activity administered, and according to the source and time of homework compliance assessment. We hope that the focus of future research will now be diverted from general questions of the benefit of including homework in therapy, to more specific questions regarding the relative effectiveness of different types of homework assignments for different client problems. [source] A comparison of donepezil and galantamine in the treatment of cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysisHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 3 2005Robin D. J. Harry Abstract This review was conducted in order to determine the efficacy of donepezil and galantamine in the treatment of cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, and also to determine whether galantamine was a superior pharmacological intervention. Meta-analytic methods were used to analyse the data from eight empirical studies which met the inclusion criteria specified. By finding the mean effect sizes of the treatment on the outcome measures of cognition, it was determined that neither drug was greatly efficacious. However, this result does not necessarily diminish the practical value of the drug. It was also found that galantamine was no better than donepezil at treating cognitive decline in AD. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A meta-analysis of the effects of internet- and computer-based cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxietyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Mark A. Reger Abstract Internet-and computer-based cognitive-behavioral treatments have been introduced as novel approaches to deliver standard, quality treatment that may reduce barriers to care. The purpose of this review is to quantitatively summarize the literature examining the treatment effects of Internet- or computer-based treatment (ICT) on anxiety. Nineteen randomized controlled ICT trials were identified and subjected to fixed and random effects meta-analytic techniques. Weighted mean effect sizes (Cohen's d) showed that ICT was superior to waitlist and placebo assignment across outcome measures (ds=.49,1.14). The effects of ICT also were equal to therapist-delivered treatment across anxiety disorders. However, conclusions were limited by small sample sizes, the rare use of placebo controls, and other methodological problems. In addition, the number of available studies limited the opportunity to conduct analyses by diagnostic group; there was preliminary support for the use of ICT for panic disorder and phobia. Large, well-designed, placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm and extend the results of this meta-analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1,21, 2009. [source] Reexamining data from the national reading panel's meta-analysis: Implications for school psychologyPSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 6 2003Matthew K. Burns The National Reading Panel (NRP) recently conducted a meta-analysis about reading interventions and made several recommendations from the data. However, given that reading is the academic area for which most children are referred to school psychologists, further exploration of the implications of the NRP data may be warranted. Effect size data for reading outcome measures were qualitatively interpreted, with none of the posttest effect sizes, and only one-third of all of the effect size coefficients exhibiting a large effect. Furthermore, reading outcome measures were divided into three categories: pseudowords, words in isolation, and contextual reading. The resulting recomputed mean effect sizes of .84, .92., and .37, respectively, questions the grouping of these three variables into one outcome. Other concerns about methodology were also included. This supports the need for targeted reading interventions based on assessment of reading skills. Implications for the three roles that school psychologists play in the educational research area are also discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 605,612, 2003. [source] | |||||||||||||