Lexicon · Research Literacy
How to read a mental health study
Cochrane and the BMJ on effect sizes, confidence intervals, and what 'evidence-based' actually requires.
Cochrane8 min read
Most mental health news coverage either over-claims or under-claims based on a single study. Cochrane's plain-language explainers — combined with the BMJ's 'How to read a paper' series — are the most useful free tools for becoming the kind of reader who can tell which one is happening.
Particular concepts worth learning: effect size, confidence interval, NNT (number needed to treat), publication bias, the difference between statistical and clinical significance.
Mental Hum's library is a curated index of authoritative third-party resources. The summary above is our own framing; the full information lives at the source.
A note on this article
Mental Hum publishes general education, not medical advice. If something here reflects your own experience, please consider speaking to a clinician. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.