case-control study
A retrospective study design comparing individuals with a psychiatric disorder (cases) to those without (controls) to identify risk factors.
Full Definition
Case-control studies are fundamental to psychiatric epidemiology, allowing researchers to investigate associations between potential risk factors and psychiatric disorders by working backwards from disease status. Cases are individuals who have the disorder of interest, while controls are similar individuals who do not have the disorder. This design is particularly efficient for studying rare disorders or those with long latency periods. In psychiatric epidemiology, case-control studies have been instrumental in identifying genetic, environmental, and developmental risk factors for mental illness. Key considerations include appropriate control selection, recall bias, and temporal relationships between exposures and outcomes.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify the source of cases and controls and justify the matching strategy used.
In Context
- "The case-control study identified childhood adversity as a significant risk factor for adult PTSD." — Research findings
- "Authors should address potential selection bias in their case-control study methodology." — Peer review comment