Enhancing comprehension of consent for research in older patients with psychosis: a randomized study of a novel consent procedure.
OBJECTIVE
The ability of individuals with schizophrenia to provide informed consent for research has become the focus of public debate. The authors examined whether a novel consent procedure improved the comprehension of consent for older patients with psychosis.


METHODS
Fifty outpatients with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders and 19 normal comparison subjects aged 40-80 were randomly assigned to groups given either a routine or an enhanced consent procedure. The latter utilized a computerized presentation that included sequential bullet points and summaries of key information. A posttest measured comprehension of consent-relevant information.


RESULTS
A significantly greater proportion of patients who received the enhanced consent procedure scored 100% on first and second trials of the posttest, compared to those receiving the routine procedure (trial 1: 42.3% versus 8.3%; trial 2: 80.8% versus 45.8%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The enhanced consent method improved comprehension of information relevant for consent in older patients with psychosis.
Dunn
L B
LB
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA. ldunn@ucsd.edu
Lindamer
L A
LA
Palmer
B W
BW
Schneiderman
L J
LJ
Jeste
D V
DV
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012106:Research