Methods	Eight-week, double-blind, randomised, multicentre study.
Participants	Outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, having a minimum score of 22 on Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Age range: 18-80 years.
Interventions	Escitalopram: 102 participants. Fluoxetine: 103 participants. Escitalopram dose range: 10-20 mg/day. Fluoxetine: 20-40 mg/day.
Outcomes	Primary Outcome: Change from baseline to week 8 in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Secondary Outcomes: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Clinical Global Impression - Improvement, Clinical Global Impression - Severity, Center of Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale, Quality of Life Scale
Notes	Only unpuplished data. This study was funded by escitalopram manufacturer.
Risk of bias
Item	Authors’ judgement	Description
Adequate sequence generation?	Yes	Quote: “randomized”. Probably done
Blinding? All outcomes	Unclear	Quote: “double-blind”.
Incomplete outcome data addressed? All outcomes	Yes	Quote: ITT analysis (“all patients with at least one post-baseline assessment of MADRS”)