Main description:

This updated comprehensive guide to psychiatric research methods takes the reader from getting started in research through to publishing a paper, with advice on avoiding common pitfalls along the way. Systematic analysis and meta-analysis, epidemiology, qualitative research, and research focused on a few patients are discussed, together with the principles of validity and reliability in the assessment of psychological variables and statistical aspects of the design and analysis of clinical trials. Five completely new chapters cover topics such as research from the trainee's perspective and research in learning disability and child and adolescent psychiatry. A key text for psychiatric trainees embarking on research projects, this book will also be useful to psychiatrists supervising research projects, and those in the social sciences with an interest in carrying out research or critically reviewing the published evidence. Topics covered include setting up a research project, how to make a comprehensive review of the literature, choosing a rating scale, and getting research published.

Contents:

Part I. General Considerations: 1. Getting started in research Chris Freeman and Peter Tyrer; 2. Psychiatric research from the trainee's perspective Neil Mayfield and Rebecca Tipper; 3. Writing up research Peter Tyrer and Chris Freeman; Part II. Different Types of Research: 4. Systematic research and meta-analysis Matthew Hotopf; 5. Epidemiology Mike Crawford; 6. Qualitative research methods in psychiatry Deborah Rutter; 7. Research with single or few patients David F. Peck; Part III. Tools: 8. Statistical aspects of clinical trials in psychiatry Tony Johnson; 9. Using computers in research Chris Freeman, Patricia Casey, Ula Nur and Peter Tyrer; 10. Principles of psychological assessment Simon Gilbody, Stephen Morley and Philip Snaith; 11. Rating scales in psychiatry Peter Tyrer and Caroline Methuen; Part IV. Special Areas of Research: 12. Research in child and adolescent psychiatry Atif Rahman and Richard Harrington; 13. Research in the psychiatry of learning disability Walter Muir and Susie Gibbs; 14. Research in psychotherapy Chris Freeman and Yvonne Edmonstone; 15. Historical research G. E. Berrios.