Mao 2008.

Methods	Eight‐week randomised, parallel group, double‐blind study
Participants	In‐ and outpatients fulfilling DSM‐IV criteria for major depressive disorder, with a score of at least 18 on the first 17 items of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) and a score of at least 4 on Clinical Global Impression‐Severity (CGI). Age range: 18‐65 years Exclusion criteria: any current primary DSM‐IV axis I diagnosis or any anxiety disorder as a primary diagnosis within the year preceding enrolment, or schizoaffective disorder, a history of substance abuse or dependence within the past year; serious suicidal risk or serious medical illness; currently take St. John's wort or other Chinese herbal medicine for depression were also excluded.
Interventions	Fluoxetine: 117 participants Escitalopram: 123 participants Fluoxetine dose: 10 mg/day Escitalopram dose: 20 mg/day
Outcomes	Primary outcome: change in HDRS total score Secondary outcome: change in Montgomery and Asberg Scale for Depression (MADRS) total score Response: at least 50% decrease from HDRS baseline score
Notes	Funding: by industry
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Randomised, no further information
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No information provided
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Double blind, no further information
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Quote: " we administered treatments in a double blind fashion using a double‐dummy design", no further information
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Double blind, no further information
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Number and reasons for discontinuation clearly reported. Denominator reported for responders was different from the number of randomised patients
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Side effects reported. Secondary endpoint scores (MADRS, CGI) reported
Other bias	High risk	Quote: "contract grant sponsor: Xian‐Janssen Pharmaceutical Company (honoraria to authors for conducting this trial)". This company produces escitalopram