Can J Psychiatry. 2001 Feb;46(1):72-6.

Regression toward the mean: its etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Source

Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1. dstreiner@rotman-baycrest.on.ca

Abstract

This paper explores the phenomenon of "regression toward the mean." The primary effect of this is to affect scores on retesting so that they are closer to the population mean. Thus, people who are selected for inclusion in a study because their scores on some measure are above (or below) some criterion have values on retesting that are less extreme. This may make it appear that the study participants have improved; this will occur even in the absence of an effective intervention. We explore the reasons for regression toward the mean and how it can be detected and discuss some methods that may minimize its effects.

PMID:: 11221493; [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

MeSH Terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

EBSCO

Other Literature Sources

Supplemental Content

Save items

Related citations in PubMed

Review Phenomenon of declining anxiety sensitivity scores: a controlled investigation. [Depress Anxiety. 2009]
Review Phenomenon of declining anxiety sensitivity scores: a controlled investigation.
Broman-Fulks JJ, Berman ME, Martin HM, Marsic A, Harris JA. Depress Anxiety. 2009; 26(1):E1-9.
[Validation of the QFS measuring the frequency and satisfaction in social behaviours in psychiatric adult population]. [Encephale. 2006]
[Validation of the QFS measuring the frequency and satisfaction in social behaviours in psychiatric adult population].
Zanello A, Weber Rouget B, Gex-Fabry M, Maercker A, Guimon J. Encephale. 2006 Jan-Feb; 32(1 Pt 1):45-59.
Clinical trials and the response rate illusion. [Contemp Clin Trials. 2007]
Clinical trials and the response rate illusion.
Kirsch I, Moncrieff J. Contemp Clin Trials. 2007 Jul; 28(4):348-51. Epub 2006 Dec 19.
Comment on the inpatient treatment of mood disorders. [Psychol Rep. 1995]
Comment on the inpatient treatment of mood disorders.
Peeters FP, de Vries MW. Psychol Rep. 1995 Dec; 77(3 Pt 1):1041-2.
Review What should become of depressive personality disorder in DSM-V? [Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2009]
Review What should become of depressive personality disorder in DSM-V?
Huprich SK. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2009; 17(1):41-59.

See reviews... See all...

Cited by 3 PubMed Central articles

Prayer and healing: A medical and scientific perspective on randomized controlled trials. [Indian J Psychiatry. 2009]
Prayer and healing: A medical and scientific perspective on randomized controlled trials.
Andrade C, Radhakrishnan R. Indian J Psychiatry. 2009 Oct-Dec; 51(4):247-53.
Why do ineffective treatments seem helpful? A brief review. [Chiropr Osteopat. 2009]
Why do ineffective treatments seem helpful? A brief review.
Hartman SE. Chiropr Osteopat. 2009 Oct 12; 17:10. Epub 2009 Oct 12.
An analysis of sickness absence in chronically ill patients receiving complementary and alternative medicine: a longterm prospective intermittent study. [BMC Public Health. 2006]
An analysis of sickness absence in chronically ill patients receiving complementary and alternative medicine: a longterm prospective intermittent study.
Moebus S, Lehmann N, Bödeker W, Jöckel KH. BMC Public Health. 2006 Feb 12; 6:28. Epub 2006 Feb 12.

Related information

Related Citations
Calculated set of PubMed citations closely related to the selected article(s) retrieved using a word weight algorithm. Related articles are displayed in ranked order from most to least relevant, with the “linked from” citation displayed first.
Cited in PMC
Full-text articles in the PubMed Central Database that cite the current articles.

Recent activity

Clear Turn Off Turn On

Regression toward the mean: its etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.
Regression toward the mean: its etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.
Can J Psychiatry. 2001 Feb ;46(1):72-6.

PubMed
The neurobiology, neuropharmacology, and pharmacological treatment of the paraph...
The neurobiology, neuropharmacology, and pharmacological treatment of the paraphilias and compulsive sexual behaviour.
Can J Psychiatry. 2001 Feb ;46(1):26-34.

PubMed
Docetaxel followed by gemcitabine and irinotecan in solid tumors.
Docetaxel followed by gemcitabine and irinotecan in solid tumors.
Oncology (Williston Park). 2001 Jan ;15(1 Suppl 1):37-45.

PubMed
Quality improvement in chronic illness care: a collaborative approach.
Quality improvement in chronic illness care: a collaborative approach.
Jt Comm J Qual Improv. 2001 Feb ;27(2):63-80.

PubMed
Seasonality of birth in children (0-14 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus in S...
Seasonality of birth in children (0-14 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Slovenia.
J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Jan ;14(1):47-52.

PubMed

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

PubMed

Result Filters

Display Settings:

Send to:

Regression toward the mean: its etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Source

Abstract

MeSH Terms

MeSH Terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Supplemental Content

Save items

Related citations in PubMed

Cited by 3 PubMed Central articles

Related information

Recent activity

Simple NCBI Directory

Getting Started

Resources

Popular

Featured

NCBI Information