Abstract
Background: Psychiatric disorders affect approximately one in eight people worldwide, with economic impacts projected to reach $6 trillion by 2030. Effective data sharing is crucial for advancing psychiatric research, yet its practice remains inconsistent due to ethical and regulatory challenges. This review aimed to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of data sharing statements (DSS) in psychiatric research. We focused on how journal policies, study design, and other factors influence DSS inclusion in clinical trials and observational studies, examining trends and barriers to transparency and reproducibility.
Methods: We systematically reviewed articles from the ten highest-impact psychiatric journals published between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023. We assessed DSS presence, tracked trends, and analyzed factors affecting DSS inclusion using hierarchical logistic regression. A thematic analysis categorized DSS content and evaluated the follow-through on data sharing promises.
Results: Of 1,042 reviewed articles, 319 included DSS. The proportion of articles with DSS rose from 5% in 2017 to 56% in 2023. DSS inclusion varied significantly among journals; The Lancet Psychiatry and The British Journal of Psychiatry reported high inclusion rates, while the American Journal of Psychiatry had low rates. Clinical trials were more likely to include DSS than other study designs. Regression analysis identified higher journal impact factors, open access status, and study design as significant predictors of DSS presence. Thematic analysis highlighted prevalent themes like 'Gatekeeper Role' and 'Conditional Data Availability,' reflecting concerns about data privacy and accessibility.
Conclusions: Despite a rising trend in DSS inclusion, substantial variability exists across journals and study designs. Journal policies and impact factors play a critical role in DSS presence. To enhance research transparency and reproducibility, standardizing data sharing guidelines, improving journal policies, and providing better researcher education are essential. Addressing ethical and legal concerns while promoting open science practices will improve research quality and psychiatric care outcomes.
Methods: We systematically reviewed articles from the ten highest-impact psychiatric journals published between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023. We assessed DSS presence, tracked trends, and analyzed factors affecting DSS inclusion using hierarchical logistic regression. A thematic analysis categorized DSS content and evaluated the follow-through on data sharing promises.
Results: Of 1,042 reviewed articles, 319 included DSS. The proportion of articles with DSS rose from 5% in 2017 to 56% in 2023. DSS inclusion varied significantly among journals; The Lancet Psychiatry and The British Journal of Psychiatry reported high inclusion rates, while the American Journal of Psychiatry had low rates. Clinical trials were more likely to include DSS than other study designs. Regression analysis identified higher journal impact factors, open access status, and study design as significant predictors of DSS presence. Thematic analysis highlighted prevalent themes like 'Gatekeeper Role' and 'Conditional Data Availability,' reflecting concerns about data privacy and accessibility.
Conclusions: Despite a rising trend in DSS inclusion, substantial variability exists across journals and study designs. Journal policies and impact factors play a critical role in DSS presence. To enhance research transparency and reproducibility, standardizing data sharing guidelines, improving journal policies, and providing better researcher education are essential. Addressing ethical and legal concerns while promoting open science practices will improve research quality and psychiatric care outcomes.
| Original language | American English |
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| State | Published - 14 Feb 2025 |
| Event | Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Week 2025 - Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, United States Duration: 10 Feb 2025 → 14 Feb 2025 https://medicine.okstate.edu/research/research_days.html |
Conference
| Conference | Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Week 2025 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Tulsa |
| Period | 10/02/25 → 14/02/25 |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- psychiatry
- systematic review
- data sharing