What type of review is characterized by expert opinion?

Narrative reviews are characterized by expert opinion as they provide a comprehensive synthesis of existing literature on a topic without the strict methodology that applies to systematic reviews or meta-analyses. These reviews present the author's perspective and interpretations, drawing on their expertise in the field. While they may summarize findings from various studies, narrative reviews are typically less structured and do not require rigorous criteria for study selection or data analysis. This allows authors to incorporate their insights and contextual understanding, making expert opinion a central feature of narrative reviews. Thus, they play an important role in the academic discourse, especially in areas where established evidence may be limited or where new theories are being proposed.