Principal point classification: Applications to differentiating drug and placebo responses in longitudinal studies

Principal points are cluster means for theoretical distributions. A discriminant methodology based on principal points is introduced. The principal point classification method is useful in clinical trials where the goal is to distinguish and differentiate between different treatment effects. Particularly, in psychiatric studies where placebo response rates can be very high, the principal point classification is illustrated to distinguish specific drug responders from non-specific placebo responders.     

盐酸多奈哌齐治疗血管性痴呆的临床研究

目的评价盐酸多奈哌齐治疗血管性痴呆患者的安全性和有效性。方法对62例VD患者随机分为两组,治疗组30例(男性20例,女性10例),年龄(78±6)岁和对照组32例(男性22例,女性10例),年龄(77±7)岁,进行12周临床观察。用MMSE为主要评价指标,日常生活能力量表(ADL)和临床痴呆程度量表(CDR)为次要评价指标。结果5mg/d盐酸多奈哌齐治疗12周时,盐酸多奈哌齐组较对照组安慰剂MMSE,ADL,CDR分数显著改善(依次P<0.01,P<0.05,P<0.01)。对照组安慰剂,研究结果显示,5mg/d盐酸多奈哌齐治疗12周时,治疗后较治疗前MMSE,CDR,ADL分数分别较明显改善(P<0.05)。安慰剂组评价指标无改善。结论盐酸多奈哌齐可显著改善VD患者的认知功能,且安全性良好。