Depression Recurrence Study Design and Methods

What statistical technique was used to calculate odds ratios?

Logistic regression

Which covariates were selected as potential predictors of PDE?

Birth year, years of education, childhood sexual abuse, neuroticism, history of MD before the past year, introversion, self-esteem, social support, difficulties, and parental warmth

What approach was used to compare propensity matching?

Co-twin control approach

What type of twin pairs were analyzed to obtain discordant pairs for risk factor exposure?

Co-twin pairs Signup and view all the answers

What was used to create matched pairs discordant for exposure?

Nearest neighbor or greedy matching algorithm Signup and view all the answers

Which episode reports were used as risk factors and which as outcomes?

MD episodes reported at MM1 and FF1 as risk factors, MD episodes reported at MM2 and FF2 as outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using a natural experiment in the study design?

To address the question of causality. Signup and view all the answers

How does the co-twin control method help in studying causality?

By examining outcomes in twin pairs discordant for risk factor exposure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using propensity analysis in the study?

To simulate a case-control study in a cohort assessed for risk factor exposure. Signup and view all the answers

How does the co-twin control method account for shared covariates?

By matching twin pairs raised together for their rearing environment and genes. Signup and view all the answers

What does propensity analysis do to ensure valid comparison between exposed and unexposed individuals?

Selects unexposed controls matched on the probability of being a case. Signup and view all the answers

How were the statistical methods (co-twin control and propensity analysis) applied in the Virginia Adult Twin Study of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders?

They were applied separately in male-male and female-female twin samples. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two approaches to evaluate causal processes when randomized controlled trials are not feasible for psychiatric disorders?

Natural experiments and statistical methods Signup and view all the answers

According to counterfactual/interventionist theories of causation, what will happen to disease rates if the association between risk factors and major depression is causal?

Reducing risk factor exposure will reduce rates of disease. Signup and view all the answers

What is the critical question regarding the association between dependent stressful life events (dSLEs), prior depressive episodes (PDEs), and major depression (MD)?

Whether the association between these risk factors and MD is causal or noncausal. Signup and view all the answers

What are some shared covariates that may predispose individuals to both dSLEs and MD?

Neuroticism, prior depressive episodes, and genetic risk for MD Signup and view all the answers

What are some long-lasting risk factors for major depression, as mentioned in the text?

Genes and childhood adversities Signup and view all the answers

Why are randomized controlled trials not feasible for many psychiatric disorders?

Due to ethical or practical reasons Signup and view all the answers