Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
washout period
A time interval in psychiatric studies during which participants discontinue previous medications to eliminate carryover effects before starting new treatments.
Full Definition
A washout period is a predetermined time frame in psychiatric research protocols during which participants must discontinue all psychotropic medications or previous study interventions. This period allows for the complete elimination of previous treatments from the participant's system, ensuring that baseline measurements and subsequent treatment effects are not confounded by residual drug effects or carryover from prior interventions.
In Context
- "Participants underwent a two-week washout period before randomization to study medication." — Study protocol
- "The washout period was extended to four weeks for participants previously taking fluoxetine due to its long half-life." — Methodology section
Also known as
washout phase
drug-free period
Don't confuse with
run-in period
screening period