Methods	Six-week double-blind, randomised multicentre study.
Participants	Outpatients fulfilling DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive episode, with a score of at least 25 on MADRS and of at least 4 on CGI-S. Age range: 19-68 years. Exclusion criteria: serious or uncontrolled medical illness, major anxiety, agitation, suicide risk, resistance during the current episode to at least two antidepressants, substance abuse or dependence, concomitant therapy with lithium, MAO-I, long-acting neuroleptic
Interventions	Fluoxetine: 93 participants. Milnacipram: 97 participants. Fluoxetine dose: 20 mg/day. Milnacipram dose: 100 mg/day.
Outcomes	Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS-24), Montgomery and Asberg Scale for Depression (MADRS), Clinical Global Impression Scale
Notes	Funding: by industry
Risk of bias
Item	Authors’ judgement	Description
Allocation concealment?	Unclear	B - Unclear