Comparison 3. Depression: efficacy as a dichotomous outcome at 6–12 weeks.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
3.1 Antidepressants vs placebo	7	662	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.57, 0.96]
3.1.1 SSRIs	4	316	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.82 [0.58, 1.17]
3.1.2 TCAs	1	17	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.09 [0.42, 2.86]
3.1.3 Other antidepressants	3	329	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.61 [0.42, 0.87]
3.2 SSRI vs TCA	2	199	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.10 [0.78, 1.53]
3.2.1 Paroxetine vs amitriptyline	1	175	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.14 [0.79, 1.63]
3.2.2 Paroxetine vs desipramine	1	24	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.85 [0.33, 2.18]
3.3 Mirtazapine vs TCA	1	33	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.81 [0.60, 1.09]