Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 2/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: I'm reading journals about bipolar in which they discuss emdr or stress management in comparison to usual treatments or waitlist. They never specify "usual treatments or waitlist". Please explain.

ANSWER: Hi AL . . .

There are various types of controls that are used in studies of  experimental treatments. When the experimental treatment is a drug, it is usually compared to a placebo. The problem becomes more complex when the experimental treatment is a form of psychotherapy such as EMDR. While the abstract of an article from a professional journal may talk about "usual treatments" in the actual article the usual treatments are usually specified. For example, "conventional doses of antidepressants and once a week cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy."

A waiting list control is making determinations of the severity of the symptoms understudy at two points, usually months apart, between the initial evaluation and the start of some treatment after the patient spent time on a waiting list.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I assume the wait list group is not under any therapy or drug program. Also, I'm reading many abstract online articles and wish to read the full article but it seems every journal demands a payment to read it. Is there any other way to read it without paying?

Answer
Hi . . .

Go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ and print out an abstract of the article. Take the abstract to your local public library and ask them to get you a cop by Intralibrary Loan. Usually they will come up wiht a photocopy that you do not have to return.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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