A review of seventy-four clinical trials of…
“A review of seventy-four clinical trials of antidepressants, for example, found that thirty-seven of thirty-eight positive studies [that praised the drugs] were published. But of the thirty-six negative studies, thirty-three were either not published or published in a form that conveyed a positive outcome.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Positive results are heavily published while negative results are suppressed, biasing the scientific record.
In simple terms: Positive studies get published, negative ones hidden.
Beware publication bias in research.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- clinical decision making
- policy formulation
- patient counseling
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does selective publishing affect treatment choices?
- What mechanisms can ensure balanced reporting?
Negative findings may still be reported in less visible venues.