| Methods |
Journals were handsearched cover‐to‐cover by one person. A 10% sample of journal years was searched by a second person. MEDLINE was searched (in 1992) for the years 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991. Citations were downloaded into ProCite and compared to the handsearch. |
| Data |
12 mental health journals (1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991). |
| Comparisons |
Handsearch vs MEDLINE using a simple search (using 'clinical trial') and a complex search using MeSH and text terms. |
| Outcomes |
A total of 743 RCTs were identified; 698 RCTs were identified by HS, 133 RCTs were identified by the simple ES and 388 RCTs were identified by the complex ES. |
| Notes |
Of those found only by HS, 42 RCTs were abstracts, 5 RCTs were letters and 20 RCTs were brief reports, book reviews etc. The time taken to HS was 200 hours and to ES was 8 hours. |
