Cognitive-behavioral therapy for post COVID-19 condition: A pilot randomized controlled trial, 2026, Sauer et al.

[dave30th]

It seems like they had quite a few. primary outcomes. Did they do any correcting for multiple tests? I didn't see it.

Also, can someone explain to me the difference between the ANCOVA findings on the primary outcomes, and the mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM) results? They seem to get different results on those for the PHQ-15 on somatic symptoms--there's no difference in the primary analysis but there is a difference in the MMRM analysis, which was part of sensitivity analysis but is what they mention in the abstract. Also, they refer to the MMRM results as "post-hoc," which I also don't understand.

Thoughts on these points?

 

[ME/CFS Science Blog]

The study was preregistered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS000333476; registration date: February 1, 2024) a

Anyone able to find the trial registration?

It seems like they had quite a few. primary outcomes. Did they do any correcting for multiple tests? I didn't see it.

Don't see it either and they mention 5 primary outcomes. With correction none would be statistically significant.

Also, can someone explain to me the difference between the ANCOVA findings on the primary outcomes, and the mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM) results? They seem to get different results on those for the PHQ-15 on somatic symptoms--there's no difference in the primary analysis but there is a difference in the MMRM analysis, which was part of sensitivity analysis but is what they mention in the abstract. Also, they refer to the MMRM results as "post-hoc," which I also don't understand.

Post-hoc usually means that it wasn't pre-specified and decided after seeing the results.

Don't think the ANCOVA versus MMRM difference matters much but it does seem like they tried to get more significant results by using another statistical approach.

 

[Nightsong]

Anyone able to find the trial registration?

DRKS00033476 (DRKS.de)