How to Study Chronic Diseases—Implications of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for Research Designs

BACKGROUND: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has been received considerable attention internationally. METHODS: The Convention’s main arguments are conceptually analyzed. Implications for the development of research designs are elaborated upon. RESULTS: The Convention entails both a human rights and a sociopolitical dimension. Advancing a relational notion of disability, it enters a rather foreign terrain to medical sciences. Research designs have to be changed accordingly. CONCLUSION: Research designs in accordance with the CRPD should employ and further develop context-sensitive research strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration. Complex designs that allow for a relational analysis of personalized effects have to be established and evaluated, thereby systematically integrating qualitative methods.