title: Informed consent as a form of volunteer bias.
abstract: Two nontreatment studies of tardive dyskinesia were examined to see if giving or refusing informed consent might bias results. Three prominent psychiatric journals were also reviewed to determine whether the outcome of informed consent procedures was sufficiently well described to permit evaluation of potential bias. The nontreatment studies suggested that the bias created by requiring informed consent may cause both false-positive and false-negative findings. The literature review showed that treatment studies have generally ignored the potential impact of these biases on results. Accurate interpretation of research reports, particularly clinical trials, demands that more attention be given to the process of obtaining and reporting informed consent.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Edlund
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018579:Patient Selection; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D035842:Research Subjects; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents