In the Geld et al. 2013 multicenter randomized controlled trial, what was the primary outcome measure?

In the Geld et al. 2013 multicenter randomized controlled trial, what was the primary outcome measure?

• A. Negative symptoms
• B. Motivation for change
• C. Change in anxiety
• D. Change in symptoms of depression

Answer: (A)

In randomized trials, the primary outcome is the main endpoint the study is designed to detect and base its power calculations on. It shows the treatment’s intended effect in the most important domain the researchers want to improve. For this Geld et al. multicenter trial, the investigators focused on change in negative symptoms as that primary outcome. Negative symptoms—such as reduced motivation, social withdrawal, and diminished affect—are central features that significantly affect functioning and quality of life, and they can be particularly challenging to improve. By selecting change in negative symptoms as the main endpoint, the study centers on whether the intervention best addresses these core deficits, using a standardized assessment to measure how much they change from baseline to the study’s end. Other aspects like motivation for change, anxiety, or depression are valuable for a broader understanding and may be analyzed as secondary outcomes or exploratory measures, but they are not the primary focus of determining efficacy in this trial.

In randomized trials, the primary outcome is the main endpoint the study is designed to detect and base its power calculations on. It shows the treatment’s intended effect in the most important domain the researchers want to improve.

For this Geld et al. multicenter trial, the investigators focused on change in negative symptoms as that primary outcome. Negative symptoms—such as reduced motivation, social withdrawal, and diminished affect—are central features that significantly affect functioning and quality of life, and they can be particularly challenging to improve. By selecting change in negative symptoms as the main endpoint, the study centers on whether the intervention best addresses these core deficits, using a standardized assessment to measure how much they change from baseline to the study’s end.

Other aspects like motivation for change, anxiety, or depression are valuable for a broader understanding and may be analyzed as secondary outcomes or exploratory measures, but they are not the primary focus of determining efficacy in this trial.