Use of statistics in the Psychiatric Bulletin: author guidelines

Abstract

Inappropriate use of statistics can seriously undermine the validity of published medical research. This paper aims to make recommendations to authors on the use and presentation of statistics in submissions to the Psychiatric Bulletin. We derive our recommendations from a review of the quality of statistical reporting in 50 consecutive ‘original’ papers published in the Psychiatric Bulletin. However simple the methodology of a study, adequate emphasis needs to be given to the correct and appropriate use and presentation of statistics in scientific papers.