Question:


Which method is used to study the timeline shown in the image?

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Studying the untreated natural history over time needs a forward-looking longitudinal design.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Cohort Study
  • Cross sectional study
  • Randomized Control Trials
  • Interventional Studies
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The timeline depicts the natural history of disease, that is, the progression of a disease process in an individual over time in the absence of treatment.
Step 2: It shows the stage of susceptibility, exposure, subclinical disease where pathologic changes occur, onset of symptoms, the usual time of diagnosis, clinical disease, and finally recovery, disability or death.
Step 3: Longitudinal (cohort) studies follow a group forward over time and are the method used to study the natural history of disease. Cross sectional studies capture only a single point in time, while randomized controlled trials and interventional studies introduce a treatment and so cannot describe untreated natural history. Hence a cohort study is correct.
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