Moeller 2003.
Methods | Four‐week, prospective, randomised study. | |
Participants | In‐patients fulfilling DSM‐IV criteria for unipolar depression. Exclusion criteria: patients who were not physically healthy, needed further medication, had a history of endocrine disorders, were pregnant or were suffering from alcohol or drug abuse. Age range: 19‐67 in citalopram group; 16‐64 in reboxetine group. |
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Interventions | Citalopram: 19 participants. Reboxetine: 17 participants. Citalopram fixed dose: 40 mg/day. Reboxetine fixed dose: 8 mg/day. Only diazepam and zaleplon were allowed as additional medications. |
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Outcomes | Primary outcome: basal prolactin levels from baseline to endpoint. Secondary outcomes: mean change on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Montgomery and Asberg Rating Scale for Depression (MADRS) scores from baseline to endpoint. |
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Notes | Three days before tests started, patients were treated exclusively with diazepam (for agitation) and zaleplon (for insomnia) in order to wash out previous antidepressant medication. | |
Risk of bias | ||
Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Quote: "Patients were assigned randomly". |
Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | No information provided. |
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Quote: "patients were not blinded about medication". |
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | No information provided |
Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | No information provided |
Other bias | Unclear risk | Sponsorship bias cannot be ruled out. |