[Psychiatric research in Southern Netherlands; most studies get completed, social-scientific ones more often than pharmacotherapeutical trials].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the nature and the course of scientific studies in psychiatry that have been reviewed by the Research Ethics Committee in the South Netherlands (Toetsingscommissie Zuid-Nederland (TCZ)).


METHODS
Exploratory, retrospective.


METHODS
Scientific studies in psychiatry that were submitted for review in the period 1 January 1988-31 December 1998 by TCZ, were investigated to determine their progress and to find out what study features were prognostic for completion.


RESULTS
In this research project 131 psychiatric studies, which were expected to be completed towards the end of 1998, were considered for inclusion. Approximately 2/3 of all studies had a social-scientific character, 1/3 being pharmacotherapeutical. 116 cases were reviewed and 114 selected. From the 88 studies started, 77 had been completed. Out of these 77 completed studies 75 have been presented and/or published. Seven patients were involved in four studies that were stopped prematurely; they were possibly incorrectly burdened. Studies described as experimental, painful, pharmacotherapeutical, externally initiated, externally financed or multicentered ran a greater risk of not being completed than studies without these characteristics. Topics such as a limited number of subjects, a large burden or a long duration also jeopardized the successful completion of a study. A multivariate analysis showed that the pharmacotherapeutical nature of studies was the most important predictor.


CONCLUSIONS
In the psychiatric hospitals of the South Netherlands scientific research has been carried out. Many of the studies that were approved by the TCZ were started and completed. Pharmacotherapeutical research ran a greater risk of non-completion than social-scientific research.
de Jong-Verhagen
J G
JG
Toetsingscommissie Zuid-Nederland, 's-Hertogenbosch. jongverhagen@tref.nl
de Jong
C A
CA
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D011643:Publishing; D012189:Retrospective Studies