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. 1999 Dec 11;319(7224):1534–1539. doi: 10.1136/bmj.319.7224.1534

Box 1.

: Main inclusion and exclusion criteria

  • Inclusion
  • Men and women aged 18-65
  • Diagnosis of a moderate depressive episode according to ICD-10 (international classification of diseases, 10th revision) codes F32.1 and F33.1
  • Minimum total score of 18 on the 17 item version of the Hamilton depression rating scale
  • A clinical global impressions rating of severity (item 1) of moderately, markedly, or severely ill
  • Depression duration a minimum of four weeks and a maximum of two years
  • Exclusion
  • Mild and severe depressive disorders according to ICD-10 codes F32.0, F33.0, F32.2, F33.2, F32.3, and F33.3
  • Bipolar disorders according to ICD-10 codes F 31.x
  • Comorbidity from alcohol or drug dependence according to ICD-10 codes F10-F19
  • Suicidal risk (assessed by item 10 of the Montgomery Asberg depression rating scale)
  • Long term prophylaxis with lithium or carbamazepine
  • Non-sufficient washout phase of previous psychotropic drug
  • Any interfering psychotropic drug taken concurrently
  • Any previous long term (>3 months) treatment with benzodiazepines
  • Patients at general and specific risk (imipramine contraindications)