Table 1. Basic Characteristics and Depression Assessing System Applied in Trials Included in the Meta-Analysis.

Study	Status of CHC	Status of Depression	Measures for Depression Assessment
Morasco BJ [29]	>18 years old, eligible for IFN/RBV therapy.	Exclusion criteria: hypersensitivity to paroxetine, active delirium, current major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, and a substance use disorder within the last six months.	DSM-IV (SCID) HAM-D
Raison CL [30]	18–65 years old, Exclusion criteria: other liver disease, unstable cardiovascular, endocrinologic, haematologic, renal or neurologic disease.	Exclusion criteria: history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, diagnosis of major depression or substance, abuse/dependence within 6 months of study entry.	SCID MADRS
Diez-Quevedo C [31]	18–65 years old, ≥16 months of persistent elevated ALT. Exclusion criteria: other liver disease, unstable cardiovascular, endocrinologic, haematologic, renal, autoimmune, neurologic disease, Co-infection with HBV, HIV, neutrophil count<1500,platelet count <70,000 per µl, hemoglobin<12 g/dl in men and <11 g/dl in women, non reliable contraception in women.	Exclusion criteria: history or current diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, dementia; the presence, within 2 months of study entry, of drug, or alcohol abuse, symptomatic mental disorders(including major depressive disorders, dysthymia, and anxiety disorders other than specific phobias),the use of any psychiatric medication(patients were only allowed to maintain treatments with benzodiazepines at constant dosages). Zolpidem was used for insomnia when needed.	DSM-IV
De Knegt RJ [32]	18–70 years old, Exclusion criteria: presence of contra-indications, for anti-viral therapy, abnormal values for thyroid stimulating hormone.	Exclusion criteria: a concurrent psychiatric axis I diagnosis, concurrent use of psychotropic drugs, a history or other evidence of severe illness or malignancy and any other condition which would make the patient unsuitable for the study.	M.I.N.I. DSM-IV MADRS BDI SCL-90
Morasco BJ [33]	≥18 years old, eligible for antiviral therapy.	Exclusion criteria: ongoing depression or active psychotic symptoms during the previous 3 months, substance abuse in the previous 6 months, medical comorbidities that could interfere with treatment, or current antidepressant use.	DSM-IV (SCID) MADRS
Schaefer M [34]	>18 years old, treatment-naive patients, serum HCV RNA levels ≥1000 IU/mL. Exclusion criteria: pretreatment with IFN or immunotherapy, other chronic infection, or an autoimmune or severe somatic comorbid condition.	Exclusion criteria: a lifetime diagnosis of an affective disorder, drug abuse in the past 12 months, treatment with antidepressants during the past 3 years, or a history of any other axis I disorder.	DSM-IV (SCID) MADRS

HBV: Heptatitis B virus, HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, M.I.N.I: Mini-international Neuropsychiatric Interview, SCID: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–IV; MADRS: Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale, BDI: Beck Depression Inventory, SCL-90:Symptom Check List-90.