Quality indicator | Aman et al 32* | White and Aman35* |
Validity of the results | ||
Study addresses a clearly focused issue | Yes | Yes |
Cohort recruited in an acceptable way | Yes | Yes |
Exposure accurately measured to minimise bias | Yes | Yes |
Outcome accurately measured to minimise bias | Yes | Yes |
Identification of all important confounding factors | Yes | Yes |
Design and/or analysis account for confounding factors | No: length of intervention too short to observe treatment effects | No: length of intervention too short to observe treatment effects |
Complete enough follow-up of participants | No | No |
Long enough follow-up of participants | No | No |
Scope of the results | ||
Description of study results | Yes | Yes |
Precision of study results | No exact p values, no effect sizes, no differentiation between depressive-like and acting-out group | No exact p values, no effect sizes |
Believability of study results | Yes | Yes |
Impact of the results | ||
Results applicable to local population | Yes | Yes |
Results in line with available evidence | No | Yes |
Implications for practice | Length of intervention too short to draw conclusions regarding implications | The study is now outdated given improved knowledge on the risks of the long-term use of the drug |
*CASP Checklists for randomised controlled trials.