Table 3

Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP Checklists)40 for studies with n>1

Quality indicatorAman et al 32*White and Aman35*
Validity of the results
Study addresses a clearly focused issueYesYes
Cohort recruited in an acceptable wayYesYes
Exposure accurately measured to minimise biasYesYes
Outcome accurately measured to minimise biasYesYes
Identification of all important confounding factorsYesYes
Design and/or analysis account for confounding factorsNo: length of intervention too short to observe treatment effectsNo: length of intervention too short to observe treatment effects
Complete enough follow-up of participantsNoNo
Long enough follow-up of participantsNoNo
Scope of the results
Description of study resultsYesYes
Precision of study resultsNo exact p values, no effect sizes, no differentiation between depressive-like and acting-out groupNo exact p values, no effect sizes
Believability of study resultsYesYes
Impact of the results
Results applicable to local populationYesYes
Results in line with available evidenceNoYes
Implications for practiceLength of intervention too short to draw conclusions regarding implicationsThe study is now outdated given improved knowledge on the risks of the long-term use of the drug
  • *CASP Checklists for randomised controlled trials.