PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Annette Friend
TI  - Commentary: Describing Differences—Possibilities and Pitfalls
DP  - 2008 Mar 01
TA  - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
PG  - 87--89
VI  - 36
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jaapl.org/content/36/1/87.short
4100  - http://jaapl.org/content/36/1/87.full
SO  - J Am Acad Psychiatry Law2008 Mar 01; 36
AB  - Reports of attempts to investigate, characterize, compare, and contrast those who are mentally ill fill the literature and invite controversy. It seems to be part of human nature to reestablish and define the differences between us. Creative descriptive studies continually challenge our perspective, yet they must be balanced with thoughtful consideration of possible selection bias, an understanding of how a perspective may influence a particular view, and an appreciation of statistical constraints, before describing differences as predictive risk factors.