The Representativeness of Participants With Severe Mental Illness in a Psychosocial Clinical Trial

2018

Introduction: Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are increased in severe mental illnesses (SMI). Trials of psychosocial health interventions to improve physical health in SMI, including in treatment-resistant schizophrenia, have shown some benefit. However, the representativeness of participants in such trials has not been determined. Method: We utilized an anonymised case register to determine if participants in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a novel psychosocial health intervention aiming to improve physical health in SMI had similar severity of illness to eligible non-participants. A retrospective database analysis was performed, using Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNO…