Empirical Bayes MCMC estimation for modeling treatment processes, mechanisms of change, and clinical outcomes in small samples.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The current analysis demonstrates the use of empirical Bayes (EB) estimation methods with data-derived prior parameters for studying clinically intricate process-mechanism-outcome linkages using structural equation modeling (SEM) with small samples.

Method

The data were obtained from a small subsample of 23 families receiving Functional Family Therapy (FFT) for adolescent substance abuse during a completed randomized clinical trial. Two or 3 video-recorded FFT sessions were randomly selected for each family. The middle 20-min portion of each session was observed and coded. An SEM examining the influence of a select set of observed therapist behaviors on pre- to posttreatment change in mother reports of family functioning and, in turn, pre- to posttreatment change i

SUBMITTER: Ozechowski TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4327978 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature