Specialized register

The register systematically includes all RCTs and CCTs that describe an active intervention (including prevention, treatment and rehabilitation) aimed at treating drugs or alcohol dependence. Published RCTs and CCTs are identified by systematically handsearching specialist journals, relevant conference proceedings and abstracts, and by systematically searching electronic databases such as The Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and MEDLINE (see below).
Reviews and other study designs identified by the search strategy are investigated for references and archived for future use.
Once the strategy is run on the databases listed above, the bulk of results is checked for relevance using some specific keywords (i.e. surgery, epidural, cancer, pain etc. which tend to interfere with our terms). The remaining references are evaluated by the titles and, when necessary, the abstracts. The full texts of the articles are obtained to identify the study design. The studies are coded on the basis of a series of rules developed in collaboration with other Cochrane Groups on mental health which are in the process of creating a common register of trials.

To date, the register contains 7334 references (5683 RCTs and 1651 CCTs).
Hard copies are available for 4007 references. We are in the process of retrieving the remaining full articles through: direct contact with triallists, online services, and contact with Libraries.

The Group also maintains a large register of citations (~2412) and papers (~940) that contains other study designs relevant to the work of this Group.

For questions about the register or search strategies, please contact:

Zuzana Mitrova

Trials Search Co-ordinator

Cochrane CDAG Group

email: s.mitrova@deplazio.it