random effect variance per treatment group in lmer

Dave,

How about using stratifying variance on level of drug using
( 0 + as.numeric(drug=="D") | Patient ) + ( 0 + as.numeric(drug=="P") | Patient )
Here's some code (whose sim also builds in a fixed effect of time that applies only to the Drug condition).

set.seed(500)
n.timepoints <- 8
n.subj.per.tx <- 20
sd.d <- 5; sd.p <- 2; sd.res <- 1.3
drug <- factor(rep(c("D", "P"), each = n.timepoints, times = n.subj.per.tx))
drug.baseline <- rep( c(0,5), each=n.timepoints, times=n.subj.per.tx )
Patient <- rep(1:(n.subj.per.tx*2), each = n.timepoints)
Patient.baseline <- rep( rnorm( n.subj.per.tx*2, sd=c(sd.d, sd.p) ), each=n.timepoints )
time <- factor(paste("Time-", rep(1:n.timepoints, n.subj.per.tx*2), sep="")) 
time.baseline <- rep(1:n.timepoints,n.subj.per.tx*2)*as.numeric(drug=="D")
dv <- rnorm( n.subj.per.tx*n.timepoints*2, mean=time.baseline+Patient.baseline+drug.baseline, sd=sd.res )
dat.new <- data.frame(time, drug, dv, Patient) 
xyplot( dv~time|drug, group=Patient, type="l", data=dat.new )
# fit model treats time as a quantitative predictor
( fm.het <- lmer( dv ~ rep(1:n.timepoints, n.subj.per.tx*2)*drug + ( 0 + as.numeric(drug=="D") | Patient ) + ( 0 + as.numeric(drug=="P") | Patient ), data=dat.new ) )


HTH,
alan

From: "Afshartous, David" <afshart at exchange.sba.miami.edu>

asked:

All,
I didn't receive a response to the query below sent to the general
R-help mailing list so figured I'd try this mailing list.  Apologies
in advance if this is an overly simplistic question for this list; I
just started 
w/ lmer after not using lme for awhile.
Cheers,
Dave 

__________________________________________________________

All,

How does one specify a model in lmer such that say the random effect for

the intercept has a different variance per treatment group?  
Thus, in the model equation, we'd have say b_ij represent the random
effect
for patient j in treatment group i, with variance depending on i, i.e,
var(b_ij) = tau_i.

Didn't see this in the docs or Pinherio & Bates (section 5.2 is specific
for 
modelling within group errors).  Sample repeated measures code below is
for 
a single random effect variance, where the random effect corresponds to
patient.
cheers,
dave


z <- rnorm(24, mean=0, sd=1)
time <- factor(paste("Time-", rep(1:6, 4), sep="")) 
Patient <- rep(1:4, each = 6) 
drug <- factor(rep(c("D", "P"), each = 6, times = 2)) ## P = placebo, D
= Drug
dat.new <- data.frame(time, drug, z, Patient) 
fm =  lmer(z ~ drug + time + (1 | Patient), data = dat.new )

--
Alan B. Cobo-Lewis, Ph.D.		(207) 581-3840 tel
Department of Psychology		(207) 581-6128 fax
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5742     		alanc at maine.edu

http://www.umaine.edu/visualperception