enrichment design
Clinical trial strategy that selects participants based on characteristics that increase likelihood of treatment response.
Full Definition
Enrichment design is a clinical trial methodology that strategically selects participants based on specific characteristics that are expected to increase the probability of demonstrating treatment effects. This approach can involve enriching for participants with specific biomarkers, disease severity levels, previous treatment responses, or genetic factors. While enrichment designs can improve statistical power and reduce sample size requirements, they may limit the generalizability of results to broader patient populations. Common in psychiatric research for trials targeting treatment-resistant populations or specific symptom profiles.
Usage
Usage note: Improves statistical power but may limit generalizability; specify enrichment criteria used.
In Context
- "The enrichment design selected only participants with severe depression scores and previous SSRI non-response." — Study design section
- "While the enrichment design improved effect detection, it limited generalizability to the broader depression population." — Discussion section