Randomized controlled trials in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research; 1956-1993: a prevalence study

RCTs are the gold standard for the evaluation of mental health care [WHO Scientific Group on Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders, 1991]. All RCTs in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research to date (October 1993) were identified. A profile of the geographical origin, content, interventions under investigation, and methodological quality (as measured by reporting of randomization) of every trial is described. The prevalence of trials from Europe in the Journal is increasing. The frequency of trials regarding the psychotherapies in this journal is also increasing whilst that of drug trials is constant. High quality reporting of randomization is rare. This pilot study generates many disturbing questions regarding the content and quality of RCTs within psychosomatic medicine that urgently need to be answered. Trials in this journal may well not be representative of all RCTs relevant to psychosomatic medicine. If all such trials are to be made accessible to those interested in evidence-based practice, however, much methodical searching must be undertaken, and this study can then be repeated and the questions answered with more authority.