Discrepancies from registered protocols and spin occured frequently in randomized psychotherapy trials – a meta-epidemiologic study (2020) Stoll et al

If only this was true of the so called BPS research into ME/CFS.

 

Some good bits from the paper:

The criteria for detemining that a trial had stuuck to its proocol:

It is interesting to note that the PACE trial fails these criteria (although its not on depression, so isn't counted).

The criteria for determining whether there was "spin":

The analysis was section by section, but some examples of PACE spin come easily to mind. On reading 5) and 6), I was mindful of the focus on within-subject differences in the PACE trial long-term follow-up, and the interpretation of the nonsignficant change between 12 months and long-term follow-up being interpreted as evidence of treatment effectiveness in a superiority trial (remember "the beneficial effects of CBT/GET were maintained at long-term follow up").

The spin results, shocking but true:

 

From the Discussion:

 

Is this of any use to you @adambeyoncelowe. with regards to NICE?

 

Oh, but they are. The toxic part of toxic positivity is the important one, not the latter one.

EBM needs massive reforms.

 

Spinning BS, now there's an image worthy of a cartoon. Probably along with the notion that if you throw enough sh*t against a wall, some of it always sticks.

 

Thanks. I'll have a read.

 

the entire history of this profession is littered with fraud why the hell would any intelligent person want to join in wasting their lives. money may be the only motivator for people who lack the ethics or intelligence to do something more productive .

 

Don't forget prestige. Major motivator for folk with over-sized egos.