Linear Mixed Models in Practice

The dissemination of the MIXED procedure in SAS has provided a whole class of statistical models for routine use. We believe that both the ideas be­ hind the techniques and their implementation in SAS are not at all straight­ forward and users from various applied backgrounds, including the phar­ maceutical industry, have experienced difficulties in using the procedure effectively. Courses and consultancy on PROC MIXED have been in great demand in recent years, illustrating the clear need for resource material to aid the user. This book is intended as a contribution to bridging this gap. We hope the book will be of value to a wide audience, including applied statisticians and many biomedical researchers, particularly in the pharma­ ceutical industry, medical and public health research organizations, con­ tract research organizations, and academic departments. This implies that our book is explanatory rather than research oriented and that it empha­ sizes practice rather than mathematical rigor. In this respect, clear guidance and advice on practical issues are the main focus of the text. Nevertheless, this does not imply that more advanced topics have been avoided. Sections containing material of a deeper level have been sign posted by means of an asterisk.

Geert Verbeke is Assistant Professor at the Biostatistical Centre for Clinical Trials of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium. He received the B.S. degree in mathematics (1989) from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the M.S. in biostatistics (1992) from the Limburgs Universitair Centrum, and earned a PhD in biostatistics (1995) from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Dr. Verbeke wrote his dissertation, as well as a number of methodological articles, on various aspects on linear mixed models for longitudinal data analysis. He has held visiting positions at the Gerontology Researh Center and the Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD). Geert Molenberghs is Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at the Limburgs Universitair Centrum in Belgium. He received the B.S. degree in mathematics (1988) and a PhD in biostatistics (1993) from the Universiteit Antwerpen. Dr. Molenberghs has published methodological work on the analysis of non-response, and non-compliance in clinical trials.