Dear Benjamin,
A peculiar category is the 'tomato effect'', in fact a type 4 error.
The example - as far as I can recall it - is the efficacy of gold
injections in R.A. based on a infectious theory. When that
infectious theory was proven wrong, the gold therapy was
abandonned and with that the real efficacy of that therapy, untill the
efficacy of gold was rediscovered, and proven in properly designed
studies.
The tomato effect. rejection of highly effacious
therapies.
Goodwin JS, Goodwin JM.
JAMA 1984; 251: 2387-90.
Type 3 and type 4 errors in the statistical
evaluation of clinical trials.
Robin ED, Lewiston NJ.
Chest 1990; 98: 463-5.
Nico van Duijn
Dr.N.P. van Duijn, General Practitioner
Department of General Practice
Division Public Health
Academic Medical Centre
University of Amsterdam
Meibergdreef 15
1105 AZ Amsterdam
& Primary Health Care Centre 'de Haak'
Almere
the Netherlands
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