Methods	6 week randomised double blind study
Participants	Diagnosis: DSM-III major depressive disorder Setting: Inpatients
Interventions	1. Mirtazapine: 20-60 mg/day, N = 125 2. Amitriptyline: 75-225 mg/day, N = 126 Flexible dosing scheduling
Outcomes	The measure used for response and remission in the review: 21-item HAM-D Other measures; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, General Assessment Scale
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	Comment: The method of allocation is not described.
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	High risk	More than 20% of the allocated participants to both of the intervention arms dropped out during the study
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 this
Free of Sponsorship bias?	High risk	The funding source is the pharmaceutical company of mirtazapine

Abbreviations: CGI = Clinical Global Impression, HAM-D = Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, MADRS =Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, RDC = Research Diagnostic Criteria