Dickens 2000.

Study characteristics
Methods	Design: parallel Duration: 8 weeks Assessment: baseline and post‐intervention Country: UK
Participants	Pain condition: low back pain Population: adults with chronic low back pain and depression Minimum pain intensity: NR Inclusion criteria Aged 18‐65 Chronic low back pain for > 6 months Significant depressive symptoms as measured with the MADRS scale Significant disability in daily living tasks as measured by the ODI Exclusion criteria Any other significant physical or mental health condition Total participants randomised: 98 Age in years (mean, SD): 45.2 (10.2) Gender: 53/98 were female Pain duration in years (mean, SD): NR
Interventions	Placebo n = 48 Inert Identical in appearance to antidepressant Paroxetine 20 mg n = 44 SSRI Fixed dose
Outcomes	Pain intensity Physical function Mood
Missing data methods	ITT with LOCF
Funding source	Pharmaceutical: SmithKline Beecham
Conflicts of interest	NR
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomisation of order of treatment allocation was achieved using a computer‐generated randomisation list in which treatments were balanced.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Sequentially numbered treatment packs containing the medication were held in and distributed by the hospital pharmacy. The packs were allocated to consecutive participants in strict sequential order.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Double‐blind, appearance of both placebo and antidepressant was identical
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Self‐reported outcomes from blinded participants
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	ITT with LOCF, but very low dropout Attrition Total: 6/98 (6.1%) Attrition per arm NR
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	No protocol or trial registration found
Other bias	Low risk	No other sources of bias were identified.