Methods	Six-week randomised, double-blind study.
Participants	Outpatients fulfilling Research Diagnostic Criteria for major depressive disorder or bipolar illness, with a score of at least 17 on the HDRS-17. Age range: 18-65 years old. Exclusion criteria: serious somatic illness, alcohol or drug abuse, pregnancy, severe depression with indication for hospital admission or ECT, or TCA, neuroleptics in the previous 4 weeks, MAOI in the previous 2 weeks
Interventions	Fluoxetine: 26 participants. Mianserin: 27 participants. Placebo: 28 participants. Fluoxetine dose range: 20-80 mg/day. Mianserin dose range: 20-80 mg/day. Only temazepam (max 20 mg) nightly for the shortest possible period
Outcomes	Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, CGI, Montgomery and Asberg Scale for Depression, PGI
Notes	Funding: unclear
Risk of bias
Item	Authors’ judgement	Description
Allocation concealment?	Unclear	B - Unclear