Letter to the editor: Methodological flaws on the conduct and reporting in "Psychotherapies for the treatment of borderline personality disorder: A systematic review"

Abstract

This brief commentary critically examines the study "Psychotherapies for the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review" by Crotty et al. (2023) It highlights several methodological and reporting concerns that impact the study's credibility and conclusions. Key issues include the retrospective registration of the study protocol, discrepancies in authorship and protocol content, lack of clarity in inclusion and exclusion criteria, and limitations in geographical scope without clear justification. Furthermore, the letter discusses inconsistencies in the risk of bias and quality of evidence assessments, particularly in the application of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. These methodological shortcomings question the study's findings, contrasting with other comprehensive reviews in the field. The critique emphasizes the importance of methodological rigor and transparency in systematic reviews, especially those influencing clinical practice and policy decisions in mental health care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).