Intermediate
Technical
IVT
treatment-naive
Referring to patients who have not previously received pharmacological treatment for their psychiatric condition.
Full Definition
Treatment-naive describes patients who have never received medication for their current psychiatric disorder or episode. This designation is crucial in psychiatric research as it eliminates confounding variables related to previous medication effects, withdrawal symptoms, or treatment resistance. Treatment-naive populations often show different response patterns compared to previously treated patients and may be preferred for certain types of studies, particularly those examining first-line therapies or natural disease progression.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as an adjective before a noun.
In Context
- "The study enrolled only treatment-naive patients with major depressive disorder." — Inclusion criteria
- "Treatment-naive subjects showed a higher response rate to the investigational drug." — Results section
Also known as
drug-naive
medication-naive
Contrasted with
treatment-experienced
previously treated
Don't confuse with
treatment-resistant
first-episode