A New Approach on Nonparametric Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance

In a previous paper Wernecke, Kalb (1999) applied the multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance (Timm (1980)) as well as the method of data alignment (Hildebrand(1980)) to a cross-over clinical trial. The latter method consists of an adjustment of those factors not regarded in the current analysis and a following rank analysis of variance. However, the precondition of independent groups for this analysis is only valid from a practical point of view (Jones, Kenward(1990) assume the groups as independent, if the wash-out-phases will be large enough). Furthermore, ranking after alignment supposes quantitative scaling.Recently, Brunner, Langer (1998) considered general rank-score statistics for general repeated measures designs, compound symmetry designs and designs for longitudinal data with continuous or ordered categorical data. Therefore, it seems worth applying this approach to our data and to compare the results of all the discussed procedures.