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Interpreting Data in Aetiological Studies of Affective Disorder: Some Pitfalls and Ambiguities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Tirrill O. Harris  and
George W. Brown
Tirrill O. Harris*
Affiliation:
Medical Sociology Unit, Department of Social Policy and Social Science, Bedford College and Royal Holloway College, (University of London), 11 Bedford Square, London WC1
George W. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Social Policy and Social Science, Bedford College and Royal Holloway College, (University of London), 11 Bedford Square, London WC1
*
∗Correspondence
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Summary

Although recent research in social psychiatry has produced an encouraging congruence of findings and conclusions, puzzling inconsistencies continue to be reported. One explanation which is often overlooked is that subtle differences in the way seemingly identical variables are grouped can produce sizeable, and sometimes dramatic, differences in the patterning of the same data. Re-examination of existing results can therefore often better clarify confusing inconsistencies than collection of new data. This is illustrated by examples from recent studies of affective disorder where the grouping of variables is discussed in three broad areas: parental loss in childhood, precipitating stress, and social support. Until the aetiology of affective disorder is more fully understood, it will often be clearer if data are analysed more than once, so that several combinations of variables are systematically examined.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 147 , Issue 1 , July 1985 , pp. 5 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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