Methods	8 week randomised double blind study
Participants	Diagnosis: DSM-IV major depressive disorder Setting: In- and outpatients
Interventions	1. Mirtazapine: 15-40 mg/day, N = 66 2. Fluoxetine: 20-40 mg/day, N = 66 Flexiblie dosing scheduling
Outcomes	The measure used for response and remission in the review: MADRS Other measures: HAM-A, CGI-Improvement, CGI-Severity, Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire -adapted, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors’ judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Quote: “randomised” Comment: No further information provided.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Quote: “participants were allocated to treatment with either mirtazapine or citalopram, according to the centrally prepared randomization list” Comment: No further information about actual central randomisation provided
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Quote: “double-blind” Comment: No further information provided.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Less than 20% of the participants dropped out and missing outcome data are balanced in numbers across intervention groups, with similar reasons of missing data across groups
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	The response outcome at the end of acute-phase treatment is provided as the proportion of the participants who achieved these
Free of Sponsorship bias?	High risk	The funding source is the pharmaceutical company of mirtazapine