Vranken 2011.

Study characteristics
Methods	Design: parallel Duration: 8 weeks Assessment: baseline and post‐intervention Country: Netherlands
Participants	Pain condition: neuropathic pain caused by spinal cord injury or stroke Population: people with severe neuropathic pain caused by spinal cord injury or stroke Minimum pain intensity: ≥ 6 on 0‐10 scale Inclusion criteria Severe neuropathic pain caused by lesion or dysfunction in the central nervous system Pain persisting for ≥ 6 months Pain intensity of ≥ 6 on 0‐10 scale Exclusion criteria Known history of significant hepatic, renal, or psychiatric disorder; using antidepressants for treatment of depression Total participants randomised: 48 Age in years (mean, SD): NR Gender: NR Pain duration in years (mean, SD): NR
Interventions	Placebo n = 24 Inert Identical appearance to duloxetine Sham dosing matching duloxetine arm procedure Duloxetine 60‐120 mg n = 24 SNRI Flexible dosing of 1‐2 capsules of 60 mg a day. Patients started with 1 capsule per day and were titrated at a 1‐week interval; if relief was insufficient (> 1.8 on a VAS) then participants were given 2 capsules to take.
Outcomes	Pain intensity Quality of life Physical function Mood PGIC Withdrawal
Missing data methods	State ITT but no methods
Funding source	Non‐pharmaceutical: "Academic Medical Center": assuming the author's institution: Medical Center Alkmaar
Conflicts of interest	There are no conflicts of interest.
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Participants were randomised using computerised random sampling (clorandm.exe)
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	At baseline each coded medication bottle was supplied by the hospital pharmacist to the blinded treating physician.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Double‐blind, identical study drugs, sham dosing of placebo to match intervention arm
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	Low attrition. State ITT but do not report methods Attrition Total: 4/48 (8.3%) Placebo: 1/24 (4.2%) Duloxetine 60‐120 mg: 3/24 (12.5%)
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Matches what's registered in protocol: https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/1125
Other bias	Low risk	No other sources of bias were identified.