Robust Bayesian inference for multivariate longitudinal data by using normal/independent distributions.

ABSTRACT: Many randomized clinical trials collect multivariate longitudinal measurements in different scales, for example, binary, ordinal, and continuous. Multilevel item response models are used to evaluate the global treatment effects across multiple outcomes while accounting for all sources of correlation. Continuous measurements are often assumed to be normally distributed. But the model inference is not robust when the normality assumption is violated because of heavy tails and outliers. In this article, we develop a Bayesian method for multilevel item response models replacing the normal distributions with symmetric heavy-tailed normal/independent distributions. The inference is conducted using a Bayesian framework via Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation implemented in BUGS language. Our prop

SUBMITTER: Luo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3884581 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature