Work

Diagnostic testing in psychiatry: insights and examples from a Bayesian perspective

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the application of Bayes' theorem to diagnostic testing in clinical settings, especially with respect to rare diseases, enhancing an understanding of pre-test probability and its implications. CONCLUSION: Bayes' theorem enables the revision of the conditional probabilities of an event occurring when new information is acquired. It demonstrates that when the prevalence of a disease is very low, there are a high number of false positives, thereby reducing the clinical utility and cost benefit profile of the diagnostic test, even in the presence of relatively high sensitivities and specificities of the chosen test.

Source: Australasian Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1177/10398562241300887

Authors: Paul A Maguire, Jeffrey CL Looi

Institutions: Australian National University, Canberra Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Statistical Methods in Epidemiology

Subfield: Statistics and Probability

Field: Mathematics

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,950