The process of selecting patients for research studies introduces
factors that can bias outcome. The authors compared schizophrenic and
depressed patients accepted for studies on their clinical research unit
with patients admitted to the hospital with the same diagnoses. They found
significant differences between the two groups in age, sex, and legal
status. The authors conclude that many research populations may not be
representative of general patient populations for a number of reasons and
argue that research studies also need to focus on patients who do not meet
research ward criteria.Abstract Teaser