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Accuracy of references in psychiatric literature: a survey of three journals

Regional Secure Unit, Runwell Hospital, The Chase, Wickford, Essex SS11 7QE;

Ruth Fosker, District Librarian

Colchester and North East Essex Postgraduate Medical Centre, Colchester General Hospital, Colchester.

^* Correspondence

Aims and method The prevalence of errors in reference citations and use in the psychiatric literature has not been reported as it has in other scientific literature. Fifty references randomly selected from each of three psychiatric journals were examined for accuracy and appropriateness of use by validating them against the original sources.

Results A high prevalence of errors was found, the most common being minor errors in the accuracy of citations. Major citation errors, delayed access to two original articles and three could not be traced. Eight of the references had major errors with the appropriateness of use of their quotations.

Clinical implications Errors in accuracy of references impair the processes of research and evidence-based medicine, quotation errors could mislead clinicians into making wrong treatment decisions.