Table 4.

Strengths and weaknesses of four modelling techniques for simulating the course of depression

Criterion	Decision tree	Cohort-based state-transition Markov model	Individual-based state-transition model	DES
Building time	+	+	−	−
Data collection	+	+	−	−
Experience	+	+	+	−
Simulation time	+	+	−	−
Clinical representation	−	−	+	+
Patient heterogeneity	−	−	+	+
Time of events	−	+	+	+
Memory	−	−	+	+
Patient interaction	−	−	−	+
Interaction due to covariates	−	−	−	+
Variability	−	−	+	+

DES discrete-event simulation, + indicates modelling technique was evaluated positively for this criterion, − indicates modelling technique was evaluated negatively for this criterion