Schizophrenia trials in China: a survey.
OBJECTIVE
China's biomedical research activity is increasing and this literature is becoming more accessible online. Our aim was to survey all randomized control schizophrenia trials (RCTs) in one Chinese bibliographic database.


METHODS
Chinese Academic Journals was electronically searched for RCTs and all relevant citations were also sought on PubMed to ascertain global accessibility.


RESULTS
The search identified 3275 records, of which 982 were RCTs relevant to schizophrenia. A total of 71% (699) could be found by using English phrases. All the main body of text of the 982 papers was in Mandarin. On average, these trials involved about 100 people, with interventions and outcome measures familiar to schizophrenia trialists worldwide. Four of the 982 records (<1%) were identified on PubMed.


CONCLUSIONS
Those undertaking systematic reviews should search the Chinese literature for relevant material. Failing to do this will leave the results of systematic reviews prone to random error or bias, or both.
Chakrabarti
A
A
General Adult Psychiatry, Newsam Centre, Seacroft Hospital, York Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. abhijitchakrabarti@yahoo.co.uk
Adams
C E
CE
Rathbone
J
J
Wright
J
J
Xia
J
J
Wong
W
W
Von Reibnitz
P
P
Koenig
C
C
Baier
S
S
Pfeiffer
C
C
Blatter
J
J
Mantz
M
M
Kloeckner
K
K
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents