Methods	14 week randomised study
Participants	Diagnosis: DSM-IV major depressive disorder Setting: Outpatients
Interventions	1. Mirtazapine: 15-60 mg/day, N = 114 2. Nortriptyline: 25-150 mg/day, N = 121 Flexible dosing scheduling
Outcomes	The measure used for response and remission in the review: 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Other measures: 17-item HAM-D, Short-Form Health Survey, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, 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: “random assignment” Comment: No further information provided.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Comment: The method of concealment is not described.
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	High risk	Comment: Both the participants and the clinicians knew the treatment status
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	No information of attrition to permit judgement is provided.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Both the response and the remission outcomes are reported in figures with the proportion of the participants who achieved these
Free of Sponsorship bias?	Low risk	The funding source is National Institute of Mental Health.