A researcher is designing a study to examine whether "talk therapy" (psychotherapy) can help people suffering from depression, as an add-on to taking medication. Finances and logistics limit her to having one control group, so she has to choose the best (not necessarily the perfect) control. She will have access to 60 people who have been diagnosed with depression, are have been taking medication for depression for at least 3 months, but who report lingering depression systems. She will randomly assign them to treatment and control. Half will remain on their current medication and engage in 3 psychotherapy sessions a week for 12 weeks, each for 50 minutes. All will see the same therapist and receive the same form of psychotherapy. They will complete a depression inventory at the beginning and end of the treatment condition. Rank the following possible control conditions, from best choice to worst choice (that is, 1= best, 3= worst)
a) The control group would be told that they had been assigned to an activity group during the same 12 weeks as the treatment group is undergoing psychotherapy. During this time they would engage in recreational activities, but no therapy.They would complete the same depression inventory at the beginning and end as the treatment group.
b) The control group would be told that they had been placed on a waiting list for psychotherapy, and would be eligible to start as soon as openings are available. None would be assigned to therapy during the 12 weeks. They would complete the same depression inventory as the treatment group at the beginning and end of the 12 weeks.
c) The control group would be asked to refrain from their medications during the same 12 weeks as the treatment group is undergoing psychotherapy. They would be assigned to a 12 week group therapy session facilitated by a fellow depression sufferer during the same weeks as the treatment condition.They would complete the same depression inventory at the beginning and end as the treatment group.
To determine the best control condition for this study, we need to evaluate the potential biases and confounding factors that each control group may introduce. It's important to note that none of these control conditions are ideal, but we can rank them based on their potential drawbacks and limitations.
1) Option b) The control group placed on a waiting list for psychotherapy: This control group is the most preferable choice among the three options. By being placed on a waiting list, these individuals are not receiving any active treatment during the 12 weeks. This control condition allows for a comparison with the treatment group, as it isolates the effects of psychotherapy from any other interventions or confounding variables. Both groups would complete the same depression inventory at the beginning and end, allowing for a direct comparison of outcomes.
2) Option a) The control group engaged in recreational activities: This control group, although not ideal, still provides some level of comparison. By engaging in recreational activities, individuals in the control group may experience some positive effects, such as social interaction or stress reduction, which could potentially influence their depression symptoms. However, this control condition allows for a comparison between psychotherapy and non-therapeutic interventions. Like option b, both groups would complete the same depression inventory at the beginning and end.
3) Option c) The control group asked to refrain from medications and participate in group therapy: This control group is the least preferable choice among the three options. Refraining from medications may cause withdrawal symptoms or a relapse of depression symptoms, potentially confounding the comparison between psychotherapy and medication. Additionally, the involvement of a fellow depression sufferer as a facilitator may introduce biases and may not fully represent the structured and professional nature of psychotherapy. This control condition may also make it difficult to distinguish the effects of group therapy from psychotherapy itself. Like the other options, both groups would complete the same depression inventory at the beginning and end for comparison.
In summary, option b) the control group placed on a waiting list for psychotherapy is the best choice, followed by option a) the control group engaged in recreational activities, and option c) the control group asked to refrain from medications and participate in group therapy being the worst choice.