A Bayesian approach for generalized random coefficient structural equation models for longitudinal data with adjacent time effects

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 4190-4203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin-Yuan Song ◽  
Nian-Sheng Tang ◽  
Sy-Miin Chow
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily A. Blood ◽  
Debbie M. Cheng

Linear mixed models (LMMs) are frequently used to analyze longitudinal data. Although these models can be used to evaluate mediation, they do not directly model causal pathways. Structural equation models (SEMs) are an alternative technique that allows explicit modeling of mediation. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the performance of LMMs relative to SEMs in the analysis of mediated longitudinal data with time-dependent predictors and mediators. We simulated mediated longitudinal data from an SEM and specified delayed effects of the predictor. A variety of model specifications were assessed, and the LMMs and SEMs were evaluated with respect to bias, coverage probability, power, and Type I error. Models evaluated in the simulation were also applied to data from an observational cohort of HIV-infected individuals. We found that when carefully constructed, the LMM adequately models mediated exposure effects that change over time in the presence of mediation, even when the data arise from an SEM.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 1800079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Ramon ◽  
Gerben Ter Riet ◽  
Anne-Elie Carsin ◽  
Elena Gimeno-Santos ◽  
Alvar Agustí ◽  
...  

The vicious circle of dyspnoea–inactivity has been proposed, but never validated empirically, to explain the clinical course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to develop and validate externally a comprehensive vicious circle model.We utilised two methods. 1) Identification and validation of all published vicious circle models by a systematic literature search and fitting structural equation models to longitudinal data from the Spanish PAC-COPD (Phenotype and Course of COPD) cohort (n=210, mean age 68 years, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 54% predicted), testing both the hypothesised relationships between variables in the model (“paths”) and model fit. 2) Development of a new model and external validation using longitudinal data from the Swiss and Dutch ICE COLD ERIC (International Collaborative Effort on Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: Exacerbation Risk Index Cohorts) cohort (n=226, mean age 66 years, mean FEV157% predicted).We identified nine vicious circle models for which structural equation models confirmed most hypothesised paths but showed inappropriate fit. In the new model, airflow limitation, hyperinflation, dyspnoea, physical activity, exercise capacity and COPD exacerbations remained related to other variables and model fit was appropriate. Fitting it to ICE COLD ERIC, all paths were replicated and model fit was appropriate.Previously published vicious circle models do not fully explain the vicious circle concept. We developed and externally validated a new comprehensive model that gives a more relevant role to exercise capacity and COPD exacerbations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 3814-3834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ridho Rahmadi ◽  
Perry Groot ◽  
Marieke HC van Rijn ◽  
Jan AJG van den Brand ◽  
Marianne Heins ◽  
...  

A typical problem in causal modeling is the instability of model structure learning, i.e., small changes in finite data can result in completely different optimal models. The present work introduces a novel causal modeling algorithm for longitudinal data, that is robust for finite samples based on recent advances in stability selection using subsampling and selection algorithms. Our approach uses exploratory search but allows incorporation of prior knowledge, e.g., the absence of a particular causal relationship between two specific variables. We represent causal relationships using structural equation models. Models are scored along two objectives: the model fit and the model complexity. Since both objectives are often conflicting, we apply a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm to search for Pareto optimal models. To handle the instability of small finite data samples, we repeatedly subsample the data and select those substructures (from the optimal models) that are both stable and parsimonious. These substructures can be visualized through a causal graph. Our more exploratory approach achieves at least comparable performance as, but often a significant improvement over state-of-the-art alternative approaches on a simulated data set with a known ground truth. We also present the results of our method on three real-world longitudinal data sets on chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer disease, and chronic kidney disease. The findings obtained with our approach are generally in line with results from more hypothesis-driven analyses in earlier studies and suggest some novel relationships that deserve further research.


2021 ◽  
pp. 016502542110228
Author(s):  
D. Angus Clark ◽  
Amy K. Nuttall ◽  
Ryan P. Bowles

Hybrid autoregressive-latent growth structural equation models for longitudinal data represent a synthesis of the autoregressive and latent growth modeling frameworks. Although these models are conceptually powerful, in practice they may struggle to separate autoregressive and growth-related processes during estimation. This confounding of change processes may, in turn, increase the risk of the models producing deceptively compelling results (i.e., models that fit excellently by conventional standards despite highly biased parameter estimates). Including additional time points provides models with more raw information about change, which could help improve process separability and the accuracy of parameter estimates to a degree. This study thus used Monte Carlo simulation methods to examine associations between change process separability, the number of time points in a model, and the consequences of misspecification, across three prominent hybrid autoregressive-latent growth models: the Latent Change Score model (LCS), the Autoregressive Latent Trajectory Model (ALT), and the Latent Growth Model with Structured Residuals (LGM-SR). Results showed that including more time points increased process separability and robustness to misspecification in the LCS and ALT, but typically not at a rate that would be practically feasible for most developmental researchers. Alternatively, regardless of how many time points were in the model process separability was high in the LGM-SR, as was robustness to misspecification. Overall, results suggest that the LGM-SR is the most effective of the three hybrid autoregressive-latent growth models considered here.


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